World heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang says Anthony Joshua needs to seriously think about hanging up his boxing gloves – but says he would still love to share the ring with the two-time world champion.
Joshua’s bid to regain the heavyweight championship for a third time has been left in tatters after he was knocked out in five rounds by IBF champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium back in September – despite going into the bout as a heavy favourite – with several ex-fighters now calling on the 2012 Olympic gold medallist to retire.
The 35-year-old has turned down the chance to immediately try and avenge his defeat to Dubois and may wait to try and get a long-awaited fight on with Tyson Fury after he does battle with Oleksandr Usyk for the other three major belts in Saudi Arabia in December. But Chinese star Zhang – who has got himself back into the title mix with a stunning fifth round stoppage of Deontay Wilder back in June – believes the Brit’s best days are long gone.
Speaking to AceOdds, the 41-year-old said: “He should look into retirement and get himself wrapped up with the business side of it. Whatever he wants to do, just go ahead and choose that route.
“With everything being said, of course, I do want to fight him, but I don’t think he wants to fight me. I don’t think Eddie Hearn will put him anywhere near me.”
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