Zhilei Zhang
Zhang in 2021
Born
张志磊

(1983-05-02) May 2, 1983
Zhoukou, Henan, China
Other namesBig Bang
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)[1]
Reach203 cm (80 in)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights28
Wins26
Wins by KO21
Losses1
Draws1
Medal record
Men’s amateur boxing
Representing  China
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing Super-heavyweight
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Chicago Super-heavyweight
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Milan Super-heavyweight
World Combat Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Beijing Super-heavyweight
University Championships
Silver medal – second place 2004 Antalya Super-heavyweight
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 GuangzhouSuper Heavyweight
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Zhuhai Super-heavyweight
Silver medal – second place 2007 Ulan Bator Super-heavyweight
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Puerto Princesa Super-heavyweight
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Incheon Super-heavyweight

Zhilei Zhang (Chinese: 张志磊; pinyin: Zhāng Zhìlěi; born May 2, 1983) is a Chinese professional boxer who has held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim heavyweight title since 2023. As an amateur, he won bronze medals at the 2007 and 2009 World Championships, and a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics, all in the super-heavyweight division. As of January 2024, Zhang is ranked as the world's third-best active heavyweight by The Ring magazine.[2]

Amateur career

In 2003, the southpaw lost 22:8 in the first round of the World Championship to fellow southpaw Grzegorz Kiełsa of Poland.

At the 2004 World University Boxing Championships, he lost the final to Rustam Saidov. Zhang attended the Physical Education College of Zhengzhou University.[3]

In 2005 in the World Championships in his home country, he beat Vugar Alekperov 20:11 before losing to eventual winner Odlanier Solis (17:7).

Zhang lost at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships to Ukrainian Vyacheslav Glazkov in the semifinals but qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics. There he settled for silver, losing the final by RSC to Italy's Roberto Cammarelle.

At the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships, he again lost the semi to a Ukrainian in Roman Kapitanenko 2:5.

He qualified for the 2012 Olympics in London but was defeated on points by future unified heavyweight world champion,[4] Anthony Joshua of the United Kingdom in the quarterfinals.

Highlights

Olympic Games results 2008 (as a Super heavyweight)

2012 (as a Super heavyweight)

World Championships results 2003 (as a Super heavyweight)

2005 (as a Super heavyweight)

2007 (as a Super heavyweight)

  • Defeated Nurpais Torobekov (Kyrgyzstan) RSCO
  • Defeated Rustam Rygebayev (Kazakhstan) 20-10
  • Defeated Daniel Beahan (Australia) KO 2
  • Lost to Vyacheslav Glazkov (Ukraine) 11-21

2009 (as a Super heavyweight)

  • Defeated Primislav Dimovski (North Macedonia) 6-2
  • Lost to Roman Kapitanenko (Ukraine) 2-5

Professional career

Early career

On March 10, 2014, in New York City, Zhilei Zhang announced that he would be turning pro. Zhang signed a promotional agreement with Dynasty Boxing, which is a promotional firm that specializes in the Chinese market.

Zhang knocked out Curtis Tate in the first 17 seconds of round one in his pro debut in Fallon, Nevada, on August 8, 2014.

Zhang compiled a perfect record of 20–0 before fighting Andriy Rudenko in Monaco on 30 November 2019. He dominated the Ukrainian veteran and secured a convincing unanimous decision win, winning on all three scorecards, 99–91, 98–92 and 97–93.[5]

In his next fight on 7 November 2020, Zhang fought Devin Vargas on the undercard of the WBC lightweight title fight between Devin Haney and Yuriorkis Gamboa. In his debut as a Matchroom Boxing fighter. Zhang dropped and stopped his opponent in the fourth round.[6]

He returned to the ring on 27 February 2021, to fight journeyman Jerry Forrest on the undercard of the super-middleweight title fight between Canelo Álvarez and Avni Yıldırım. Although Zhang started strongly, scoring three knockdowns in the opening three rounds of the bout, Forrest was able to battle his way back to earn a majority draw. The final scorecards read 95–93 Forrest, 93–93, and 93–93, with the irregular scores owing to a point deduction against Zhang for excessive holding.[7] It was revealed that after the fight, Zhang was hospitalised and later diagnosed with "anemia, high enzyme levels, and low-level renal failure that may have been caused by severe dehydration".[8][9]

On 27 November 2021, Zhang faced Craig Lewis on the undercard of Teófimo López vs. George Kambosos Jr. Zhang started the fight off slowly, but dropped Lewis twice in round two, leading Lewis' corner to throw in the towel, giving Zhang a TKO win.[10]

Zhang was scheduled to fight Filip Hrgović in an IBF title eliminator on 7 May 2022.[11] However, Hrgović pulled out of the fight on 2 May, stating that he had not been able to focus during his training camp due to the death of his father.[12] Scott Alexander was chosen as the replacement fight on the Canelo Álvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol undercard, with the fight being dropped from the co-main to the undercard.[13] Zhang won the bout via first-round knockout.[14] His fight against Hrgović was rescheduled for 20 August 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua II.[15] On that night, Zhang knocked down Hrgović in the first round with a right hand shot. After a close-fought battle over twelve rounds, the judges awarded the fight to Hrgović with scores of 115–112 twice and 114–113, in what was described as a "generous" decision by broadcaster Sky Sports after a "bizarre" performance by Hrgović.[16][17]

WBO interim heavyweight champion

Zhang vs. Joyce

On 2 February 2023, it was officially announced that Zhang would be returning to the ring at the Copper Box Arena in London, England on 15 April, against undefeated WBO interim champion Joe Joyce.[18]

On 15 April 2023, Zhang defeated Joe Joyce by sixth-round technical knockout and secured the WBO interim heavyweight title.[19]

Zhang vs. Joyce II

On 23 September 2023, Zhang beat Joyce by third-round knockout in a rematch.[20]

Personal life

As of March 2021, Zhang was residing in Bloomfield, New Jersey.[21]

Professional boxing record

28 fights 26 wins 1 loss
By knockout 21 0
By decision 5 1
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
28 Win 26–1–1 Joe Joyce KO 3 (12), 3:07 Sep 23, 2023 Wembley Arena, London, England Retained WBO interim heavyweight title
27 Win 25–1–1 Joe Joyce TKO 6 (12), 1:23 Apr 15, 2023 Copper Box Arena, London, England Won WBO interim heavyweight title
26 Loss 24–1–1 Filip Hrgović UD 12 Aug 20, 2022 King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
25 Win 24–0–1 Scott Alexander KO 1 (10), 1:51 May 7, 2022 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
24 Win 23–0–1 Craig Lewis TKO 2 (8), 2:10 Nov 27, 2021 Hulu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.
23 Draw 22–0–1 Jerry Forrest MD 10 Feb 27, 2021 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 Devin Vargas KO 4 (10), 1:49 Nov 7, 2020 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 Andriy Rudenko UD 10 Nov 30, 2019 Casino de Salle Medicin, Monte Carlo, Monaco Retained WBO Oriental heavyweight title
20 Win 20–0 Don Haynesworth TKO 3 (10), 1:48 Sep 28, 2018 Social Work College Gymnasium, Changsha, China Retained WBO Oriental heavyweight title
19 Win 19–0 Eugen Buchmueller KO 1 (10), 1:03 Jul 20, 2018 WinnaVegas Casino Resort, Sloan, Iowa, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Byron Polley TKO 1 (10), 2:30 Sep 23, 2017 Hartman Arena, Park City, Kansas, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Nick Guivas TKO 1 (10), 2:43 Aug 5, 2017 Claridge Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Curtis Harper TKO 1 (8), 2:34 May 26, 2017 Hotel & Club, Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Mark Brown KO 1 (8), 2:03 Apr 29, 2017 CenterStage@NoDa, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Peter Graham KO 1 (10), 2:58 Jan 21, 2017 Hebei Sports Venue, Shijiazhuang, China Won vacant WBO Oriental heavyweight title
13 Win 13–0 Galen Brown TKO 2 (6), 1:50 Dec 10, 2016 Marina Bay SportsPlex, Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Gogita Gorgiladze TKO 1 (8), 1:17 Sep 30, 2016 Wenzhou Gymnasium, Wenzhou, China
11 Win 11–0 Rodney Hernandez UD 6 Jul 22, 2016 Claridge Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Jamal Woods TKO 2 (6), 0:41 Jun 11, 2016 Marina Bay SportsPlex, Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 John Orr TKO 1 (6), 2:27 May 13, 2016 D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Tyree Ortiz TKO 3 (4), 2:14 Mar 26, 2016 Oracle Arena, Oakland, California U.S.
7 Win 7–0 David Koswara TKO 1 (6), 0:37 Feb 20, 2016 Lanzhou, China
6 Win 6–0 Juan Goode UD 4 Nov 21, 2015 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Dennis Benson TKO 6 (6), 0:56 Aug 15, 2015 The Playground, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Glenn Thomas UD 4 Jun 6, 2015 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Eric George UD 4 Mar 14, 2015 Jersey City Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Perry Filkins TKO 1 (4), 1:10 Jan 17, 2015 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Curtis Lee Tate TKO 1 (4), 0:17 Aug 8, 2014 Churchill County Fairgrounds, Fallon, Nevada, U.S.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "BoxRec: Zhilei Zhang". boxrec.com. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Ratings". The Ring. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  3. ↑ "校友张志磊TKO乔伊斯，获世界重量级拳击金腰带！中国重量级拳击取得历史性突破-郑州大学体育学院". www.peczzu.edu.cn. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  4. ↑ "BoxRec: Anthony Joshua". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  5. ↑ "Duva: Zhang Zhilei Proved That He Belongs in Heavyweight Mix". BoxingScene.com. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  6. ↑ "Heavyweights Filip Hrgovic, Zhang Zhilei score knockouts on Haney-Gamboa undercard". The Ring. 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  7. ↑ "Zhilei Zhang Fails to Beat Jerry Forrest – Anthony Joshua Fight Hopes in Tatters". EssentiallySports. 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  8. ↑ Lane, Terry (Feb 28, 2021). "Terry Lane statement". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  9. ↑ Stumberg, Patrick L. (2021-03-01). "Zhang Zhilei hospitalized after draw with Jerry Forrest". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  10. ↑ "Zhilei Zhang blasts out Craig Lewis in 2 rounds on Lopez-Kambosos card". 28 November 2021.
  11. ↑ "Filip Hrgovic set to clash with Zhilei Zhang in IBF heavyweight final eliminator to face Oleksandr Usyk".
  12. ↑ "Filip Hrgovic Withdraws from IBF Eliminator with Zhang Zhilei on Canelo-Bivol Undercard". 2 May 2022.
  13. ↑ "Scott Alexander Replaces Filip Hrgovic as Zhang Zhilei's Opponent on Canelo-Bivol Undercard". 4 May 2022.
  14. ↑ Photos, Boxing (8 May 2022). "Photos: Zhang Zhilei Blasts Out Scott Alexander With One-Punch Knockout". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  15. ↑ "Zhilei Zhang backed to become world's No 1 heavyweight as he faces Filip Hrgovic in IBF eliminator". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  16. ↑ "Filip Hrgovic gets peculiar win and earns shot at Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua winner". talkSPORT. 2022-08-20. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  17. ↑ "Usyk vs AJ 2: Filip Hrgovic claims unanimous decision win over Zhilei Zhang in thrilling IBF heavyweight eliminator". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  18. ↑ "Joe Joyce to fight Zhilei Zhang as Briton takes next step towards world title". The Independent. 2023-02-02. Retrieved 2023-02-02.
  19. ↑ Media, P. A. (2023-04-15). "Britain's Joe Joyce loses for first time after being stunned by Zhilei Zhang". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-04-16.
  20. ↑ "Zhang pummels Joyce again to close on title shot". ESPN.com. 2023-09-23. Retrieved 2023-09-24.
  21. ↑ "BoxRec: Zhilei Zhang". boxrec.com. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
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