{"id":298045,"date":"2023-12-01T11:24:08","date_gmt":"2023-12-01T11:24:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/?p=298045"},"modified":"2023-12-01T11:24:08","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T11:24:08","slug":"zhilei-zhang-claims-he-was-in-talks-to-fight-francis-ngannou","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportslifetale.com\/boxing\/zhilei-zhang-claims-he-was-in-talks-to-fight-francis-ngannou\/","title":{"rendered":"Zhilei Zhang claims he WAS in talks to fight Francis Ngannou"},"content":{"rendered":"
Heavyweight boxer Zhilei Zhang has revealed that he was in talks to fight Francis Ngannou in December – before the Cameroonian pulled out of negotiations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Chinese heavyweight recorded consecutive wins over Joe Joyce this year, with a devastating right hook earning him victory in their September bout.<\/p>\n
It’s seen the 40-year-old become the WBO interim world champion – but will have to wait for Tyson Fury and OIeksandr Usyk to settle their differences before getting the opportunity to unify his title.\u00a0<\/p>\n
It leaves Zhang in a tricky position and in need of an opponent, which he has now claimed could’ve been MMA fighter-turned-boxer Francis Ngannou.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The former UFC heavyweight champion made his first foray into the boxing scene in October, when he\u00a0lost to Fury via split decision in a thrilling bout in Saudi Arabia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Zhilei Zhang has revealed that he was in talks to fight Francis Ngannou in December<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
However, the heavyweight insists that Ngannou ‘didn’t want to’ go ahead with the bout<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ngannou’s only foray into the boxing world came as a decision defeat to Tyson Fury (R)\u00a0<\/p>\n
While the Cameroonian has been tipped to return to the boxing ring, after recently getting a top ten ranking in the heavyweight division, he doesn’t have a future bout booked.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now, Zhang has claimed that a clash between the two had been in the works before Ngannou’s team eventually pulled out of negotiations.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Speaking to Mail Sport, via FreeBets, Zhang said: ‘There were originally talks to have me fight Ngannou [on December 23] and I was like, “Okay, it’s a walk in the park for me, I’ll take it”.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘But Ngannou didn’t want to do it. And then it’s what you see. The big names started to come in like Joshua filling the card. And that’s what happened’.<\/p>\n
Despite Zhang’s hopes of fighting on December 23rd, the event dubbed the ‘Day of Reckoning’ will now feature the likes of Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder on it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Joshua will face-off against Otto Wallin while Wilder will take on Joseph Parker in one the most highly-anticipated boxing cards of the year.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I believe everyone is busy with their schedule but I’m someone that whoever you put in front of me, I’ll fight. It’s up to [my] team,’ Zhang continued.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘I think it’s coming [big fight in China] in 2024, people will see something like that. People behind the scenes are working very hard, every day trying to push this and I believe in 2024 we will see a high level world title fight. Everyone is invited.<\/p>\n
‘I have a strong feeling that something big is coming and I want everyone to stay tuned. If you’re watching my fight I’m not going to let you down’.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Ngannou stunned the world when he knocked Fury to the canvas back in October<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Anthony Joshua will face off against Otto Wallin on the highly-anticipated December 23 card<\/p>\n
As previously mentioned, Ngannou’s only fight inside the boxing ring came against heavyweight champion Fury back in October.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Despite expectations that the Gypsy King would steamroll the novice boxer, instead, it was Fury who found himself on the canvas during the fight.\u00a0<\/p>\n
And Zhang has suggested that the British star’s performance was an indication that his mind is ‘not in boxing’ at the minute.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zhang said: ‘With the performance Fury had against Ngannou, that says a lot about his mindset. I don’t think his mind is in boxing right now.\u00a0<\/p>\n
‘He’s in marketing, he’s in PR. He’s in all this stuff, but he’s not in boxing. You can’t fool training. You have to do it daily.<\/p>\n
‘People call me a hypnotist – I can put people to sleep. I don’t mind giving him a good sleep. I think his father is correct, he is declining if his focus is outside of the ring. He could incline again – if he focuses on the ring and the gym’.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Zhang says Fury’s performance against Ngannou showed his mind is ‘not in boxing’<\/p>\n
Elsewhere, Zhang also revealed to Mail Sport that\u00a0he was in talks to fight <\/span>Anthony Joshua\u00a0before negotiations eventually broke down.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Speaking to Mail Sport, via FreeBets,\u00a0Zhang said: ‘It was after his fight with Usyk where I was the chief support fighting Hrgovic after that event.<\/span><\/p>\n ‘My team is talking to his team and my team even flew to London to meet his people.<\/p>\n ‘And I believe what I heard was Eddie [Hearn] liked the idea, but when it comes down to himself or the managers around him, I’m not sure. I really wanted it. That’s what I can tell you’.<\/p>\n