Zhilei Zhang has warned Tyson Fury that he would suffer a similar fate to Joe Joyce if they fought.
Zhang defied the odds to stop Joyce at the Copper Box Arena in London on Saturday, in a major upset which could lead him towards a future shot at WBC world heavyweight champion, Fury.
The Chinese heavyweight got the better of many of the exchanges and forced referee Howard Foster to call a halt to the contest having consulted with the ringside doctor after six punishing rounds, which saw Joyce’s right eye completely closed.
The 39-year-old, who won a Silver medal at the 2008 Olympics, ripped away his rival’s WBO interim heavyweight title and took his number one spot in the WBO behind unified WBO, WBA ‘super’ and IBF ruler, Oleksandr Usyk.
Zhang, who inflicted a first loss on Joyce’s professional slate, vowed to do the same to Fury, if afforded the opportunity to do so.
“This is the beginning,” he told IFLTV.
“I’m going for the title.
“Let’s do that [fight Fury].
“If my team says that, let’s do that. I can go either way.
“Tyson Fury doesn’t have that chin. He will go down.”
‘The Juggernaut’ has the option to exact his rematch clause to face ‘Big Bang’ again, who is now also his promotional stablemate having signed with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions as part of his victory.
Much will be dependant on the 37-year-old’s recovery period, although proboxing-fans.com understands that checks went well after he was taking to a London hospital following the fight.
Zhang said he would be willing to wait for Joyce to recuperate and fight the Brit again in one of three locations.
“I’ll do it [the rematch],” he told Pro Boxing Fans.
“If Joe Joyce wants to do it, I’ll do it.
“The ball is in his hands. I can do it in London, New York or China either way.”
