Zhilei Zhang (Chinese: 张志磊; pinyin: Zhāng Zhìlěi; born May 2, 1983) is a Chinese professional boxer. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim heavyweight title between 2023 and March 2024. As of June 2024, Zhang is ranked as the world’s fifth-best active heavyweight by The Ring magazine.
Zhang, 40, remains a 2-1 betting favorite over Parker (34-3, 23 KOs), a New Zealander who held the WBO heavyweight title from 2016 until 2018, when he lost the belt in a unification fight with Anthony Joshua. The odds are perhaps skewed by the fact that Parker, 32, had been ground down in eleven rounds by Joyce in September of 2022, but Parker has won four straight since then, including a significant upset last December against former WBC heavyweight titleholder Deontay Wilder.
Zhilei weighs around 250 pounds and stands at 6 feet, 6 inches, towering over most of his opponents. Still, it’s not just his stature that commands attention but also his phenomenal athleticism and punching power, which have earned him accolades in the boxing world.
Zhang was scheduled to fight Filip Hrgović in an IBF title eliminator on 7 May 2022. However, Hrgović pulled out of the fight on 2 May, after his father died and his training suffered. Scott Alexander was chosen as the replacement on the Canelo Álvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol undercard, with the fight being dropped from the co-main to the undercard. Zhang won the bout via first-round knockout. His fight against Hrgović was rescheduled for 20 August 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua II. On that night, Zhang knocked Hrgović down in the first round with a big right. After a close-fought battle over twelve rounds, the judges awarded the fight to Hrgović with two scores of 115–112 and one of 114–113, in what was described as a «generous» decision by broadcaster Sky Sports after a «bizarre» performance by Hrgović.
Am 20. Juli 2024 wird das AT&T-Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Schauplatz des spektakulären Boxkampfes sein. Mit einer Kapazität von bis zu 80.000 Zuschauern ist eine beeindruckende Kulisse garantiert. Während die genaue Uhrzeit noch festgelegt werden muss, ist mit einem Kampfbeginn gegen 22:00 oder 23:00 Uhr Ortszeit zu rechnen, was in Deutschland einer Übertragung um 5:00 Uhr morgens entspricht.
Esa derrota, sumada a los problemas para encontrar rivales top, provocaron que Joe Joyce le llamase para pelear en abril de este año. Zhang tenía las apuestas en contra 10 a 1. El inglés iba a hacer la primera defensa del Mundial WBO Interino del peso pesado. Era claro favorito y se veía como un trámite, ya que el inglés quería ir contra Tyson Fury. Con ese cinturón interino habría presión por parte de WBO y podría darse.
In Deutschland ist normalerweise DAZN das Zuhause der Kampfsportarten. Neben der UFC sind auch zahlreiche Box-Spektakel beim Streamingdienst zu sehen, so unter anderem auch der bevorstehende Kampf zwischen Anthony Joshua und Francis Ngannou am Freitag.
Paul has often expressed his respect for Tyson, citing him as one of his boxing idols. By getting a face tattoo similar to Tyson’s, Paul aims to honor the former heavyweight champion and further solidify his own identity as a serious contender in the boxing arena.
However, boxers must ensure that any tattoos do not contain offensive symbols or language, as this could potentially lead to disciplinary actions by boxing organisations or commissions overseeing the matches.
Além do encontro entre Tyson e Paul, o dia 15 de novembro também reserva grandes emoções para o boxe feminino. No mesmo evento, está confirmada a revanche entre Katie Taylor x Amanda Serrano. Já a luta do influenciador digital e pugilista Whindersson Nunes com o indiano Neeraj Goyat, que estava prevista para o dia 20 de julho, ainda não foi confirmada para nova data.
WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) looked his age tonight, losing a 12-round majority decision to former WBO champion Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena see in bing.com Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Zhang scored two knockdowns, but couldn’t follow up due to his conditioning.
La esperada pelea de pesos pesados entre Jake Paul y Mike Tyson y la revancha más esperada en la historia del boxeo femenino, Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano, se reprograma para el viernes 15 de noviembre de 2024 en el AT&T Stadium de Arlington, Texas.
Estaba previsto que Zhang peleara contra Filip Hrgović en una eliminatoria por el título de la FIB el 7 de mayo de 2022. Sin embargo, Hrgović se retiró de la pelea el 2 de mayo, afirmando que no había podido concentrarse durante su campo de entrenamiento debido a la muerte de su padre. Scott Alexander fue elegido como pelea de reemplazo en la cartelera principal de Canelo Álvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol, y la pelea pasó de ser la coestelar a la cartelera secundaria. Zhang ganó la pelea por nocaut en el primer asalto. Su pelea contra Hrgović fue reprogramada para el 20 de agosto de 2022, en Jeddah, Arabia Saudita, en la cartelera de Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua II. Esa noche, Zhang derribó a Hrgović en el primer asalto con un derechazo. Después de una reñida batalla de doce asaltos, los jueces otorgaron la pelea a Hrgović con puntuaciones de 115-112 dos veces y 114-113, en lo que la emisora Sky Sports describió como una decisión «generosa» después de una actuación «extraña» de Hrgović.