‘I used to be too huge for kayaking – now I’m heavyweight boxing brute who needs Fury’

Zhilei Zhang is crusing over boxing’s uneven waters, however there was a time when he discovered himself sinking.

The WBO interim world heavyweight champion initially dreamed of turning into a world famend kayaker and canoeist somewhat than a boxer. Nowadays, the river he’s dashing down takes him to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the place a possibility to capsize the heavyweight division presents itself.

Big Bang Zhang, 40, has already sunk Joe Joyce’s greatest laid championship plans by following up a sixth spherical stoppage with a ferocious third spherical knockout. He has demanded a world championship match in opposition to Tyson Fury, however should first rock the harmful Joseph Parker, who has already seen off punching colossus Deontay Wilder.

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“Parker is a tough boxer who has fought everybody,” Zhang mentioned in an unique interview with Daily Star Sport, whereas talking on behalf of Free Bets. “I can’t take him lightly, but I will take my destiny in my own hands.”

In a sport the place most boxers strap on a pair of gloves when they’re small, Zhang began boxing when he was too huge for kayaking. Towering at a colossal 6ft 6in and weighing a whopping 116kg (18.3stone), he is likely one of the largest heavyweights within the sport.

As a teenager, he was a gifted kayaker and canoeist who possible had aspirations of profitable gold within the Olympic Games. When he discovered his development spurt, kayaking turned somewhat tough for the Chinese large, who was quickly given the brutal epiphany which began his boxing journey. “I was a kayak athlete as a kid until my body was too big,” Zhang bluntly mentioned. “My coach told me to try boxing [instead].”

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His sheer dimension and weight could have been an issue in kayaking, nevertheless it proved to be certainly one of his greatest benefits in boxing. Tommy Lane, the co-promoter who’s steering Zhang’s profession alongside his brother Terry, mentioned: “How things work in China is if they notice somebody in their province, who is a particularly good size for a certain sport, they push them in that direction.

“In Zhilei, he was in his late teens when he was introduced to boxing and took a liking to it. He did well within the amateur system in China at the time. The size was a big factor in him having advantages against others and then he started to compete in global level tournaments.”

Zhang pitched his boxing vision to his parents soon after he was told to pursue a career in the sweet science. “They didn’t fully agree but still supported my choice,” he laughed. Sadly, they did not get to see him blossom into the national and global star he is today. “My mother and father handed away whereas I used to be in coaching camp,” Zhang added. “It was hard to be away from home for years while dedicated to my career. But here I am. I believe my parents would be proud.”

There is a sobering bluntness to the way in which Zhang speaks. He throws his phrases at you want a person on a mission with too few hours within the day. It explains his latest ascent into the championship image he would absolutely be concerned in, have been it not for the fixed dithering and rescheduling of Fury and Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed heavyweight conflict.

Yet Zhang just isn’t letting the delays and cancellations get to him. “I’m not pissed off in any respect”, Zhang replied, when asked if the chaotic heavyweight landscape gets on his nerves. “It’s not my business at all. I have my own thing to focus on. No one can run away when I knock on the door.”

The 40-year-old has demanded a match with Fury on multiple occasions. He boasts an impressive 26-1-1 record, with the only blots on his record coming in a controversial unanimous decision loss to the unbeaten Filip Hrgovic and a draw against Jerry Forest, which saw Zhang fight on despite suffering from kidney issues caused by dehydration.

His slim defeat to the Croatian was shortly forgotten by the boxing world as Zhang recovered by destroying Joyce on two events in England. Zhang’s focus can be on Parker, however he sees gold on the finish of the horizon. “He wants a world title shot,” Lane added.

“He feels, and we all feel, Zhilei deserves a title shot, especially if he beats Joseph Parker. Joseph Parker, across the board, is a top four fighter on all of the sanctioning bodies. So, after coming off two back to back wins against a fighter like Joe Joyce and then taking on a challenge like Joseph Parker, if he gets through that fight, he absolutely deserves a world title shot.”

Zhang referred to as out Fury after each of his victories over Joyce. Many months have handed, however an opportunity to dethrone the Gypsy King remains to be the battle Zhang and his group need. “I like the Tyson Fury fight”, Lane added. “I think Tyson Fury is a global star and I think the fight would be huge. Stylistically I think Zhilei matches up very well against Tyson Fury.”