Zhilei Zhang Faces Big Decision Over His Next Fight After Losing By Knockout To Agit Kabayel

The Zhilei Zhang next fight is up in the air, following a devastating sixth round knockout defeat to Agit Kabayel last time out. ‘Big Bang’ featured on the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol undercard, but was stopped for the very first time in his career. This begs the question – what’s next?

Zhilei Zhang Next Fight: When Is ‘Big Bang’ Back In Action?

Zhilei Zhang’s next fight has plenty of questions surrounding it after the Chinese heavyweight boxing star was knocked out for the first time in his professional career by Agit Kabayel on the Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 undercard.

The 41-year-old is certainly in the latter stages of his career, but still has aspirations of becoming China’s first ever world heavyweight champion. Now, that seems like a long shot with Zhang at least two big wins away from a shot at world honours now.

Zhang’s last fight against Kabayel was one he was a slight underdog in with the best UK betting apps, despite being the more seasoned and explosive fighter.

Despite suffering defeat for just the third time, Zhilei Zhang’s record is an impressive one. His 27-3-1 resumé consists of 22 big wins by way of knockout, including some monumental victories over the likes of Deontay Wilder and Joe Joyce.

However, at 41-years-old it is up in the air what the next move of ‘Big Bang’ will be. If he is to continue fighting, the best boxing betting sites would still likely favour Zhang to win his next fight via knockout, unless it is against a Top 10 heavyweight.

Zhilei Zhang is a huge puncher and arguably the most powerful heavyweight on the planet. His Excellency Turki Alalshikh evidently likes Zhang, and could still be keen on working with ‘Big Bang’ going forward for the remainder of his career.

Could Zhilei Zhang’s Next Fight Be For A World Heavyweight Title?

Zhilei Zhang is promoted by Frank Warren, with ‘Big Bang’ one of several top level heavyweight fighters under the Queensberry Promotions banner at this current moment.

However, given that he lost his last fight to Agit Kabayel, it seems highly unlikely that Zhang will get a world title shot anytime soon. Unless he wins two or three big fights consecutively, it is unlikely that the Chinese heavyweight could ever fight for world honours.

That being said, write ‘Big Bang’ off at your peril. There is always a chance that if he stays fit and ready he could get a shot at one of the world champions on short notice, such as Oleksandr Usyk or Daniel Dubois, if the fight required a late replacement.

Another option for Zhang moving forward is of course retirement. Zhang is 41-years-old now and most definitely in the latter stages of his career. He and Derek Chisora are the two oldest active heavyweights in the world, so he might hang up his gloves in the not so distant future.

If he does fight on, other options for Zhang going forward could be fights against the likes of Anthony Joshua, Martin Bakole, Lawrence Okolie or even Moses Itauma. Time will tell who Zhilei Zhang’s next fight is against, if indeed he fights on.