Zhilei Zhang Interested In Derek Chisora Matchup

Zhilei Zhang is interested in boxing Derek Chisora after Chisora beat Joe Joyce by decision in an upset on Saturday.

Chisora upset Joyce and said he will continue his career as he feels like he has a couple of fights left in him. With that, Zhang believes a fight against Chisora makes a lot of sense, and thinks the bout should happen in China to make it that much bigger.

“I thought it was funny [Chisora’s mask], I had a good laugh,” the Chinese heavyweight told Razed. “I received so many messages on Friday morning here in the States because of it. Derek Chisora has expressed interest in fighting me in China in the past. Now that he is coming off of an impressive win, maybe it’s a possibility. My main focus is making sure I fight before the end of the year.” 

With Zhang wanting to box Chisora, he’s uncertain where that leaves his former opponent in Joe Joyce. Joyce lost twice to Zhang and now to Chisora, and Zhang isn’t sure where he can go from here.

“I thought it was a tough and entertaining fight, it was a great fight for the London boxing fans,” the 41-year-old added. “I don’t know what’s next for Joe Joyce. He and his team need to strategize about what to do next. I don’t think anyone should say when a fighter should retire. That’s up to them and their families.”

Zhilei Zhang is 27-2-1 as a pro and coming off a KO win over Deontay Wilder back in June after losing his interim WBO heavyweight title by decision to Joseph Parker. Zhang holds notable wins over Joyce, twice, Devin Vargas, Andriy Rudenko and Peter Graham among others.

Derek Chisora, meanwhile, is 35-13 as a pro and on a two-fight winning streak as he has back-to-back decision wins over Joe Joyce and Gerald Washington.