Zhilei Zhang has opened the door to a future clash with unified heavyweight world champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
Zhang looks to secure a mandatory shot at Usyk’s WBC crown when he faces Agit Kabayel for the interim title on February 22 in Riyadh.
Usyk retained his WBC, WBA ‘super’ and WBO belts with a unanimous decision victory over Tyson Fury in their rematch in Riyadh earlier this month and Zhang admits he is eager to face the Ukrainian, in what would be a maiden world title shot.
“If they want [to fight],” Zhang told Seconds Out.
“If they want to see what it looks like, I’ll step in the ring.
“No [we haven’t fought] not even in the amateurs, because we’re from two different weight categories, two different divisions.
“But I do hope to share the ring with him in professional boxing and see what happens.”
The Chinese southpaw secured a brutal fifth round stoppage over former heavyweight world champion, Deontay Wilder in June, bouncing back from his second professional defeat to Joseph Parker three months prior.
Kabayel is undefeated in 25 professional bouts and coming off a seventh round knockout of Frank Sanchez in May and despite having a reputation of a fearsome puncher, Zhang believes his skills will prove decisive.
“Power is something I try to forget not to emphasise in this training camp,” the 41-year-old added.
“Me and my coach Shaun [George] have been working on this all the time to forget about my power.
“I need it.
“It’s going to be there, but I’m trying to be skilful [and] be better on the skill side this time.
“He’s young, he’s intelligent and he’s hungry.
“He’s definitely on the rise in trying to become one of the greatest.
“Speaking of his last fight against Frank Sanchez, I think he did really, really well, but unfortunately I’m not Frank Sanchez and it’s difficult to predict what’s going to happen.”
