Following a recent stoppage defeat at the age of 42, many speculated that Zhilei Zhang`s professional boxing career might be over. However, the powerful Chinese heavyweight has now dismissed any talk of retirement and outlined his future intentions.
Zhang, boasting a record of 27 wins (22 by knockout), 3 losses, and 1 draw, has established himself as a significant force in the heavyweight division. His notable victories include back-to-back stoppages over Joe Joyce, during which he demonstrated the ability to overcome a seemingly durable chin, and a devastating knockout win against Deontay Wilder.
Despite these successes, February saw the popular southpaw suffer the first knockout loss of his career. In a bout for the WBC interim title, Agit Kabayel recovered from an earlier knockdown to stop a visibly fatigued `Big Bang` with a body shot in the sixth round.
This defeat has undoubtedly impacted Zhang`s immediate prospects of becoming China`s first-ever heavyweight world champion. Yet, the 2008 Olympic silver medallist stated clearly on his YouTube channel that giving up on his ambition is not an option he has considered.
“42 years old is not the end,” Zhang asserted. “It is the beginning of a new chapter. I still have not lowered my fists.”
Reflecting on his recent schedule, he noted, “All of my last five or six fights have been at the top level against top opponents. I never pick and choose; others would normally do interim fights after a tough fight to adjust.” He added, “All of them were [against fighters that are] younger than me, but I still pose a significant threat to them.”
Addressing his relatively late start and current age, Zhang commented, “I was 31 when I turned professional, and that is a typical age to consider retirement for most Chinese boxers. I am in my 40s now, but age is still just a number to me.” He remains confident in his abilities: “I know that I have got what it takes to perform at the highest level, and my body is doing well.”
“I have never thought about retirement,” he reiterated, adding a caveat, “However, if there comes a day where my body does not function properly, then it would be my time to hang the gloves up.”
Having recently undergone surgery and rehabilitation for an elbow injury sustained since the loss to Kabayel, Zhang further revealed his timeline for returning to the ring. He aims to compete again before the conclusion of this year, specifically mentioning Anthony Joshua as a potential adversary.
“I hope to fight by the end of this year,” Zhang stated. “If [Anthony] Joshua is interested, I am in – wherever it is.” He acknowledged the history: “This fight has been talked about for many years, but it never materialised. It would be great if we can make it happen this time around.”
Speaking on his ultimate goal, he said, “My dream is unachieved as of yet. I am still chasing, I am still on route to being the best, to being a world champion. I am still one step away from that goal, but it takes a lot to get there.”
Coincidentally, like Zhang, `AJ` is also scheduled to undergo elbow surgery soon and is anticipated to be out of action until the close of the calendar year. This shared recovery period means their schedules could potentially align perfectly for a much-anticipated showdown towards the end of 2025.
