TYSON FURY has been labelled a “disgrace to boxing” in an astonishing blast from Zhilei Zhang.
Zhang, 40, has been left unimpressed by Fury’s seeming reluctance to face off with another top fighter in the heavyweight division since the conclusion of his trilogy with Deontay Wilder in 2021.
WBC heavyweight champ Fury, 34, has thus far seen headline fights with Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk collapse.
Instead, the Gypsy King stepped into the ring with Dillian Whyte, before controversially agreeing to fight boxing novice Francis Ngannou.
Ngannou, 36, is recognised as one of the most feared strikers from his time in the MMA.
However, with Fury in the peak of his career, fighting boxers who are not at the top of the field is a very controversial move. And Zhang did not hold back in his own assessment.
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He told Standard Sport via Free Bets: “When you look at Tyson Fury – he avoided Joshua, he avoided Usyk. He chose to fight somebody who has never been in the ring before.
“[Ngannou] is a novice, he’s just turning pro. Yes he’s a UFC champion and I have respect for him, but when it comes to the ring it’s a different story.
“So Tyson Fury I think is a disgrace to the sport of boxing. Shame on him.”
Zhang’s last fight saw him beat Joe Joyce via TKO in April to see Big Bang crowned the WBO interim heavyweight champion.
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However, in the aftermath, Zhang revealed his team held talks with Fury’s over a showdown before Joyce activated the rematch clause.
The Chinese Southpaw added: “My team were in conversations with Tyson Fury’s team.
“We were very close to making that fight before the rematch clause was activated.
“‘I believe that fight is going to happen, one way or another.”
Zhang’s rematch with Brit Joyce is pencilled in for September 23.
Meanwhile, Fury will be back in the ring on October 28 to fight Ngannou, though his WBC belt will not be on the line.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
