A major heavyweight clash between contenders Martin Bakole and Zhilei Zhang is on the horizon, with plans for the fight to take place either in China or Africa. This exciting matchup is being orchestrated by His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.
Martin Bakole has been making waves in the heavyweight division, particularly after his impressive fourth-round knockout win over Jared Anderson on August 3rd. Many believe Bakole deserves an immediate title shot, especially given his reported dominance over Oleksandr Usyk in sparring. However, instead of being lined up to face the winner of the December 21st rematch between Tyson Fury and Usyk, Bakole may have to go through another tough opponent in the form of the 41-year-old Zhilei Zhang.
Zhang, fresh off a fifth-round knockout victory over former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on June 1st in Riyadh, remains a formidable force in the division. Despite his age, Zhang's power and resilience make him a dangerous opponent for anyone in the heavyweight ranks. For Bakole, facing Zhang could be seen as an unnecessary hurdle, but one that could cement his place as a top contender if victorious.
Watch Zhang vs. Wilder highlights: Watch
The potential for this fight to take place in China is particularly intriguing. Bakole himself has expressed enthusiasm about the possibility of fighting Zhang in Beijing, a city with a population of 22 million that could easily draw a massive crowd.
"I would love to fight big Zhang in December in China," Bakole told Sky Sports Boxing. "If that happens, I’ll be so happy."
Image Credit: DAZN