Chinese heavyweight considers AJ’s fight an exhibition event
Interim WBO World Heavyweight Champion Zhang Zhilei criticized the decision Anthony Joshua fight with ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannouinstead of a fight with a Chinese heavyweight.
“I’ll just state the facts and let everyone draw their own conclusions. Our team contacted Joshua’s representatives. We had a conversation, and then the announcement of his fight with Ngannou took place. I presented the facts, and everyone can have their own opinion on this matter. I heard it’s a 10 round fight. In a sense, this is a 10-round exhibition main event. That’s how I look at it.”
“Now you can’t help but think: what happened to professional boxing? I miss the days when Lennox Lewis fought Mike Tyson, the strongest fought the strongest. This golden era is long gone.”
Joshua will fight Ngannou on March 9 in the Saudi capital of Riyadh. Previously, the Briton planned to fight Deontay Wilder that day, but the fight fell through due to the American’s defeat by Joseph Parker.
Zhilei in his last fight defeated Joe Joyce in a rematch, knocking out the Briton in the third round. After the fight, Zhang challenged Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua to a fight in turn.
Source: Sportarena
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
