Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang, managed by Terry Lane, is keen on a showdown with WBC world champion Tyson Fury. Earlier this year, negotiations between the two camps seemed promising, but Joe Joyce’s decision to exercise a rematch clause with Zhang put those talks on hold. However, Zhang's recent victory over Joyce, where he secured a third-round knockout, has reignited interest in the Fury-Zhang matchup. Despite this, Fury is scheduled to face former UFC world champion Francis Ngannou in a non-title bout in Saudi Arabia on October 28.
Lane is optimistic about a potential Fury-Zhang bout but anticipates that Fury might prioritize an undisputed title fight with IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO champion Oleksandr Usyk. “We would love to fight Fury, but I do believe they are trying to make Fury vs Usyk next,” Lane commented. He also mentioned that if the Fury-Usyk fight doesn’t materialize, they are open to other options, including a bout with Deontay Wilder.
Zhang’s recent victory solidified his position as the WBO’s interim-world titleholder, making him the mandatory challenger to Usyk. However, Usyk is already committed to his next mandatory fight against undefeated Filip Hrgovic, who narrowly defeated Zhang in a controversial decision.
Both Zhang and Lane are eager to capitalize on Zhang’s momentum. At 40, Zhang is looking for big fights against top names in the heavyweight division. With his impressive track record and recent victories, Zhang is undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with in the boxing world.
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