Zhilei Zhang names heavyweight who is top of his hitlist

HEAVYWEIGHT contender Zhilei Zhang is eager to get his hands on the man who inflicted the second defeat of his career.

The 41-year-old was unlucky to drop a unanimous decision to Filip Hrgovic in August 2022 but Zhang bounced back with two consecutive wins over Joe Joyce. Those victories increased his stock in the heavyweight market but they suffered a dip against Joseph Parker who won a majority decision against Zhang in March.

Having rediscovered his old self in June to stop former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in five rounds Zhang now wants another shot at beating Parker.

“This is definitely on my hit-list and one of my priorities,” he told Boxing News.

“I believe my promotional and management team will sit down and go over everything but whoever they put in front of me I’ll say yes.”

When quizzed on whether rematch talks had begun Zhang said, “I believe so. I believe the management and promotional team are getting together as we speak and everything is still in discussion.”

Despite being dropped by Zhang in rounds three and eight Parker showed his powers of recovery and boxing ability to continue his rich vein of form winning on two of the three scorecards.

Should a second bout between the two be agreed Zhang says he knows what must be improved on to get his revenge.

“I think I need to pay attention to my level of focus,” he said.

“I believe in the first fight there is a loss of focus. If there is a rematch and I get in the ring with Parker I believe that is the most important thing I have to get done.”