Zhilei Zhang Eyes Joe Joyce Rematch In China

Zhilei Zhang is hoping to have a hometown fight if he does rematch Joe Joyce.

Zhang picked up a massive upset win as he scored a sixth-round TKO win over Joyce to become the WBO interim heavyweight title. Since the fight, it’s uncertain if Joyce will trigger his rematch clause but if he does, Zhang hopes the bout can take place in his country of China.

“That’s where the opening ceremony of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games was held. And it has also witnessed the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics. Two Olympics, you know. I wish the fight could be held there,” Zhang told CGTN Europe. “[Joyce] has asked for the rematch, and asked for the date and the location. I actually don’t mind about the when and the where. Of course it would be the better if it could happen in China. So that the Chinese boxing fans can see a championship heavyweight fight.”

If Joe Joyce doesn’t trigger the rematch clause against Zhilei Zhang, the Chinese boxer says he will turn his attention to Oleksandr Usyk. Of course, Usyk is in talks to face Tyson Fury in December, but Zhang believes that is the fight to make as he is confident he can pull off another upset.

“Now I can challenge Usyk, so my next plan is, of course, to fight against him. My team have been talking with Usyk’s team about a date and venue of the competition. That needs a lot of negotiation,” Zhang said. “I am very confident. My goal is to become the world boxing champion. Now I am only one step away from that goal, so I will train harder. I will make myself stronger and hope I can defeat Oleksandr Usyk to become the first [heavyweight] boxing champion in China’s or even Asia’s history.

“I like to challenge the strongest. As I said before the fight, only by defeating the strongest can one become stronger. And now, people probably think that I am not strong enough, because there are real boxing champions above me, like Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Although Joshua is not a champion now, he has mastered the sport and has ruled for many years. They’re all strong fighters. So I want to challenge any of them. In this way, I can gradually become stronger. I will show everyone, show to the world, to all boxing fans, Chinese power,” Zhang concluded.

Would you like to see Zhilei Zhang rematch Joe Joyce in China?