Boxing

ZHILEI ZHANG claims Anthony Joshua is being protected from a fight against him.Joshua, 34, secured a third successive win in Saudi Arabia in December with an impressive fifth-round stoppage of Swede Otto Wallin.
Anthony Joshua is set to face Francis Ngannou in MarchCredit: Reuters
Zhilei Zhang believes promoter Eddie Hearn is protecting Joshua from the Chinese heavyweightCredit: Getty
On the same night, a huge clash with Deontay Wilder disappeared as the American was beaten by Joseph Parker.
Now Joshua is set to take on former UFC Heavyweight Champion Francis Ngannou on March 9 following the MMA star’s controversial loss to Tyson Fury on his pro debut.
And Zhang, 40, who is coming off back-to-back victories over Joe Joyce, is not surprised Joshua’s team have opted for an Ngannou fight.
Speaking to Boxing News, he said: “I can’t say I’m disappointed, it’s a matter of personal choice, Joshua has his personal choice.
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“If you look at Ngannou, he’s come into the sport and has a record of 0 and 1. He’s the cash cow.
“If I fought Ngannou I would make a ton of money. What is boxing, is it a business or a competitive sport? That’s the question.”
Zhang, who was previously signed with Joshua’s representation Eddie Hearn, then cited the promoter as the reason for an AJ fight not materialising.
He added: “Actually I never thought this fight would be made. If Joshua believes he only has 40 per cent chance he can beat me, it won’t happen.
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Hearn has promoted Joshua since his professional debut in 2013Credit: Rex
Ngannou has landed another blockbuster heavyweight clashCredit: Reuters
“I don’t even think it’s a 60-40 in his head. Eddie Hearn will not let him fight me. It’s too much of a risk.
“When I signed with Matchroom a couple of years ago, that was one of the conversations we had.
“My team flew to London to talk about it but it’s been years and it never materialised. They know how to avoid all the risks.
“That’s how he [Hearn] does his work as a promoter, he builds up whatever he wants to build up.
“I believe they successfully avoided all the risks but I don’t know if this fight will ever happen in the future, they will just keep using my name to build up whatever they want to build up.”
Zhang boasts a professional record of 26 wins, one draw and one defeat.
His only loss came in controversial fashion against Filip Hrgovic in 2022.
He is being linked with a fight against Wilder on the undercard of Joshua vs Ngannou. More

DEONTAY WILDER is ready to redeem himself and revive his £100million Anthony Joshua fight by impressing in front of his rival. The pair of ex-heavyweight champions had signed contracts to meet in a Saudi Arabia blockbuster in March. 
Deontay Wilder was beaten by Joseph ParkerCredit: Reuters
Anthony Joshua is set to fight Francis Ngannou nextCredit: Reuters
But Wilder fluffed his lines against Joseph Parker in the dress rehearsal despite AJ later doing his part by battering Otto Wallin in five rounds. 
So now, Joshua, 34, will face red hot ex-UFC champion Francis Ngannou, 37, on March 8 in Riyadh, leaving Wilder out in the cold. 
But the American is desperate to fit on the undercard so he can get his career back on track. 
Wilder’s manager Shelly Finkel told SunSport: “We would love that. If there was an opportunity, we’d be glad to consider it. 
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“We’d love to go back there and love to be on that card if it’s possible. If that opportunity presents itself, he’ll be ready.” 
A win for Wilder and all could be forgiven, meaning the super-fight with Joshua could be explored again. 
Finkel said: “You can’t tell in advance, but I’d assume that Joshua would beat Ngannou, then hopefully we see the Deontay of old and he wins.
“Then of course, if those two were to happen it would still be natural for Deontay and Joshua to meet.”
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Joshua himself was written off after consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, 36, but he dusted himself down to get three wins on the spin. 
So Finkel hopes Wilder, 38, could be given the same chance to win cynical fans over. 
He said: “Go back two fights, people were saying Daniel Dubois was a quitter. He sure didn’t quit against Jarrell Miller and redeemed himself.
“Three fights ago, people said things about Joshua, he looked very good in his fight with Wallin and that redeemed himself in the same way.

“So in a similar situation, Deontay has a good opponent in the next fight and he looks the way we know him to look, hopefully we have him right back there with Joshua.” 
Wilder hopes to avenge his loss to Parker, 31, but Chinese star Zhilei Zhang, 40, is another frontrunner who could take one the ex-WBC champ. 
Finkel said: “Look, we would love Parker but that hasn’t been discussed. But in either case, if Zhang was presented, that would be a big fight.
“If that was on the same card as the fight with Joshua and Ngannou, I think Deontay and Zhang would rival that.
“It would be a phenomenal show for the public again. I think the job that they did putting on all the heavyweights together on that card was wonderful.”  More

ANTHONY JOSHUA has finally given his prediction for the biggest heavyweight fight in a quarter of a decade.Tyson Fury will bid to become the undisputed ruler of the heavyweight division in Saudi Arabia next month in a long-overdue showdown with former pound-for-pound king Oleksandr Usyk.
Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for all the heavyweight marbles next monthCredit: EPA
Former cruiserweight king Usyk’s chances of winning the fight have been written off by many
But Usyk’s former two-time foe Anthony Joshua has tipped him to beat The Gypsy KingCredit: GETTY
Fans and fighters alike are divided on who will win the historic showdown, although many have written off Usyk’s chances due to Fury’s significant height and reach advantages.
But AJ reckons his two-time foe has what it takes to spring a huge and historic upset in the Riyadh rumble.
When asked to predict the winner of the fight, he told Boxing Social: “I don’t know. “I’ve fought Usyk.
“I think he’s a phenomenal fighter and I think he has a great team around him.
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“You’re only as good as your team and he has a great team around him.
“After being in the ring with him and studying him, still studying him now, I think he’s the one to edge it.”
What Usyk lacks in size and power he makes up for with footwork and creativity, assets AJ believes could guide him to victory over the Gypsy King.
When pressed further on his prediction, Joshua added: “Probably because of his experiences, his ring generalship, and ring craft. I think he’s top-tier.”
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Joshua’s prediction of a Usyk win comes as no surprise as he recently revealed he wouldn’t back Fury due to the lack of “respect” he’s shown him down the years.
The former two-time unified heavyweight champ said: “I don’t know [who wins] but I’m team Usyk anyway.
“[There’s] a respect, but Fury’s said a lot of bad things about me. I’m never going to ride with someone that disrespects me.
“That would make me a lunatic and I’m pretty level-headed.
“So I’m going to go with the person who shows me respect.”
Joshua plans to be ringside for the Saudi showdown, which will be followed up with his own desert dust-up with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in March. More

ANTHONY JOSHUA had some words for old rival Andy Ruiz Jr just moments after beating Otto Wallin. Ruiz was ringside in Saudi Arabia to watch the fight, four years on from losing his rematch to AJ in the Middle East.
Anthony Joshua speaking to Andy Ruiz Jr after his fight with Otto Wallin
And he saw Joshua, 34, dispatch of Wallin, 32, in five dominant rounds.
In behind-the-scenes Matchroom Boxing footage, it captures the moment AJ spots Ruiz by ringside.
He walks over and says: “So you know, I’m calm now. I’m better now.”
Ruiz in June 2019 famously stunned Joshua to his first ever defeat by dropping him four times before a round seven stoppage.
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But AJ enacted revenge six months later in Diriyah over 12 rounds.
Ruiz, 34, has chased the lucrative trilogy decider ever since but his chances were brutally put down by Derek Chisora.
He told iFL TV: “I just wanted to see if AJ wanted to run it back and get the trilogy, but maybe not.”
And Chisora, 40, bluntly replied: “I will tell you right now. You are not on Joshua’s radar. He’s fighting [Filip] Hrgovic right now for the IBF.
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“He wants to be a three-time world champion. He’s not going to fight you. You’re not on his radar.
“I’ll be honest with you, do you understand?”
Joshua’s next fight has since been announced against Francis Ngannou, 37, the ex-UFC champion who controversially lost to Tyson Fury in October.
But Ruiz has not boxed since beating Luis Ortiz, 44, in September 2022 and looks no closer to a return.
Andy Ruiz Jr at Joshua’s last fightCredit: Getty More

BOXING had perhaps its best 12 months in 2023 with fans finally treated to the fights they want to see – and this year could be even better. Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr finally settled who was the best welterweight on the planet last July.
Terence Crawford beat Errol Spence Jr in 2023Credit: EPA
Meanwhile, Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia put on a pay-per-view blockbuster in April after years of feuding.
But despite the super-fights that got over the line, still plenty fell by the wayside and here SunSport rounds up the best which could be yet to come.
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua
On February 17, Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight for the undisputed crown and the right to call themselves the No1 heavyweight in the world.
But, fans are still desperate to finally see Fury and Joshua do battle for the pride of Britain.
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And if Fury defeats Usyk to claim all four belts, it could pave the way for a humongous fight with AJ, the biggest this country has ever seen.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could finally fight in 2024
Canelo Alvarez vs David Benavidez
With Canelo settled in as the undisputed super-middleweight king, he is running out of contenders to face.
But the one man fans have most been demanding he fight is Benavidez, dubbed the “Mexican Monster” by Mike Tyson.
The two-time champ has 24 KOs in his 28 undefeated fights and stands as the biggest test to Canelo at 168lb.
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Canelo Alvarez and David Benavidez is a fight fans have been calling for
Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev
This is another undisputed title decider between two unbeaten champions to determine the best in the division.
Bivol – who beat Canelo in 2021 – is the WBA light-heavyweight champion and has actually signed his side of the deal to fight Beterbiev.
But unified champ Beterbiev – boxing’s only title holder with a 100 per cent KO ratio – must first beat Callum Smith on January 13.
Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev are lined up for a light-heavyweight blockbuster
Gervonta Davis vs Devin Haney
At just 25, Haney has established himself as a two-division champ with undisputed titles won at lightweight.
Whereas Davis, 28, is one of boxing’s biggest PPV attractions with fan-friendly KO power.
Davis’ heavy-hands against Haney’s slick skills make this one of boxing’s best fights but their differing weights and promotional teams makes it a hard one to get over the line.
Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney have long rivalled
Ryan Garcia vs Rolando Romero
Garcia, who has 10MILLION Instagram followers, is one of boxing’s biggest stars without a world title to his name.
And he walked away from talks with old amateur rival Haney to try and set up a PPV grudge bout with WBA super-lightweight champ Romero.
The pair had a famously heated sparring session which had led to years of trash-talk – making for a blockbuster bout for 2024.
Ryan Garcia has called to fight Rolando Romero
Joshua Buatsi vs Anthony Yarde
Heading closer to home and outside of the heavyweight division, this is the biggest and best bout on offer.
For years fans have debated who is the better between the London duo and now is the time to find out.
But, if Buatsi, 30, wins his next fight against Dan Azeez, he is in line for a WBA light heavyweight title shot, which could stand in the way of Yarde, 32.
Anthony Yarde and Joshua Buatsi could finally fight in 2024
KSI vs Jake Paul
Whether boxing purists like it or not, YouTubers-turned boxers Jake Paul, 26, and KSI, 30, bring both money and attention to the sport.
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And no fight in the influencer boxing world is bigger than this.
It would end years of bitter feuding and at last crown who is the true king of the crossover boxing scene.
KSI and Jake Paul clashing in the ring in 2020Credit: Getty Images – Getty More