Undefeated heavyweight Zhang “Big Bang” Zhilei (24-0-1, 19 KOs) has touched down in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia a few days early to prepare for his IBF heavyweight title eliminator against Filip Hrgović (14-0, 12 KOs). The fight is the co-feature for the unified heavyweight championship rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua on August 20th at Superdome in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The Hrgović-Zhilei winner will become the IBF’s number one heavyweight contender.
“I’m happy to be in Saudi Arabia. This is a business trip for me. I had the best training camp of my career. I wanted to come early and adjust to the time difference. I am ready for next Saturday.”
Several top heavyweights shied away from fighting Hrgović, who is ranked number three. Zhang, who was ranked thirteen, had publicly stated that he wanted the fight against Hrgović several times. As each heavyweight “contender” passed on fighting Filip Hrgović, Zhang jumped at the chance when his name was called.
“I still don’t understand why other contenders turned down this fight. I want to be the best, and for that, you have to beat the best. This is my pathway to becoming heavyweight champion of the world.”
There’s no reason for him to turn this down. He’s 39, maybe he can change a few things, but he is what he is – most likely he isn’t getting any better. Time to shoot his shot. I wish him the best.
This is going to be a tough fight for Zhang, however he does have a shot at winning. No one thought Lucas Browne would beat Junior Fa and he destroyed him in less than 2 minutes of the first round.
I will go out on a limb and pick Zhang as the winner of this fight, most likely by decision, but maybe by a TKO late in the fight. I just don’t think Hrgović is that great. But, I could be wrong. Both of these fighter hit a lot of unknowns about them. I am just happy that finally too supposed top heavy weights are squaring up against each other. This is a very rare thing in today’s heavyweight division. So rare, these guys being undefeated at this stage in their careers, and nobody really knows if they’re average, good, great, or actual championship material. May the best heavyweight win. But I also think it will be one ugly fight as well. Not many heavyweight fighters really want to get in there and BANG anymore, they just seem to want to feel each other out, and try to not get hurt too bad.
Don’t think Hrgović is great either, he started off well, but then became too right hand happy, don’t know why. What I really don’t like is he aims punches to the back of the head too often.
Zhang is old and takes too long to get going. Hope he makes it to to the middle rounds, only then he stands a good chance. And be careful of being punched behind the head by Hrgović, hope this does not happen. Could be an interesting fight.