Zhilei Zhang is interested in a fight with Derek Chisora after watching the heavyweight defeat Joe Joyce.
Chisora earned a unanimous decision over Joyce, on Saturday at London’s O2 Arena, to potentially revive his career.
He attempted to taunt Joyce at their weigh-in by wearing a mask depicting his former opponent Zhang’s face. Joyce had been stopped by Zhang twice, and appeared angered by the mask. Zhang, however, saw the funny side, and after Chisora’s victory said that he would be open to a clash between the two.
“Derek Chisora has expressed interest in fighting me in China in the past. Now that he is coming off of an impressive win, maybe it’s a possibility. My main focus is making sure I fight before the end of the year.”
The 40-year-old Chisora revealed, after defeating Joyce, that he intends to fight on and have two final contests before retiring.
His former promoter Eddie Hearn recently named Johnny Fisher as another potential opponent. The veteran again has options, unlike Joyce.
After three defeats in his past four fights it is increasingly unlikely that the 38 year old will achieve his ambitions of winning a world title. There have been calls for Joyce to retire; however, Zhang disagrees, and thinks that that decision should be Joyce’s.
“I thought it was a tough and entertaining fight, it was a great fight for the London boxing fans,” the 41-year-old added. “I don’t know what’s next for Joe Joyce.
“He and his team need to strategize about what to do next. I don’t think anyone should say when a fighter should retire. That’s up to them and their families.”
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