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6’6′ Chinese Boxer Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang Seeks Filip Hrgovic IBF Eliminator, Bryan vs Guidry WBA

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 Oleksandr Usyk will fight a rematch in 2022 with Anthony Joshua for the undisputed World Heavyweight title, with the WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titular belts at stake. No venue or date has been set at this time.

 Cuban southpaw Luis “King Kong” Ortiz, 33-2 with 28 knockouts, Miami, Florida, having stopped former IBF World Heavyweight champion Charles Martin in the sixth round of New Year’s 2022 first IBF eliminator bout, sustained a minimal fracture of the left hand at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Hollywood, Florida. Filip Hrgovic, 14-0 with 12 knockouts, Zagreb, Croatia, was the final scheduled opponent for the final eliminator for Ortiz, the winner to get the shot at Usyk.

 Joseph Parker, 30-2 with 21 knockouts, Auckland, New Zealand, former World Boxing Organisation World Heavyweight champion, fresh off his second win over Dereck Chisora, also turned down the opportunity to fight Hrgovic in the next IBF eliminator. The next highest heavyweight contender in the IBF ratings, Tony Yoka, fights Martin Bakule in Paris on January 15. Joe Joyce, Agit Kabayel, Murat Gassiev and Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang are the next contenders available. Zhang, 23-0-1 with 18 knockouts, Bloomfield, New Jersey, by way of Zhoukou, China, wants the Hrgovic bout, if the other names pass on the opportunity. The money may not be enough for any big name to take the bout, but at 38, Chinese contender Zhang lacks many future options.

 World Boxing Association regular champion Trevor Bryan, 21-0 with 15 knockouts, Schenectady, New York, will likely fight replacement Jonathan Guidry, 17-0-2 with 10 knockouts, Dulac, Louisiana, as champion in recess Mahmoud Manuel “Diamond Boy” Charr, 32-4 with 18 knockouts, Cologne, Germany, with one win during his four year waiting game, could not comply with purse and fight contract requirements and the P1 visa and passport requirements (which require proof of a scheduled fight). Charr was trying to have the WBA declare a purse bid default. Bryan, a Don King fighter, continues to be rarely seen.

 Tyson Fury versus Dillian Whyte in defense of the World Boxing Council World Heavyweight title seems Fury’s best option for the moment likely on the table.




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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].