Terry Lane, co-manager of Chinese heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang, indicates that WBC world champion Tyson Fury would be their first target in the aftermath of a rematch win over Joe Joyce.
Back in April, Zhang shocked Joyce by handing him his first career defeat with a sixth round stoppage victory. Zhang’s consistent left hand would completely shut the right eye of Joyce – which eventually forced the ringside physician to wave off the fight.
The British boxer exercised an immediate rematch clause, with the second fight taking place this coming Saturday night at The AO Arena in London.
“I think a win for Zhilei on Saturday really separates out the heavyweight division,” Lane told Sky Sports. “If he is victorious, you really have Fury, Usyk and Zhang on top. Everyone else will be far, far beneath.
“If Zhilei wins, as we expect him to again, Fury is our first target. We will have to sit back and see what fights get made – and perhaps more importantly, which fights do not get made. This division is just a constant game of ‘musical chairs’.”
A few months ago, there were serious negotiations to make a fight between Fury and Zhang – but those discussions were derailed when Joyce exercised his contractual right to a rematch.
“I was little bit disappointed because I was very, very close to making that Tyson Fury fight happen, right before Joe activated the rematch clause,” said Zhang.
“But we had this in the contract. I had to sign the rematch clause in order to get to the first fight. So I will do whatever is right which is the rematch.”
Fury is scheduled to step back in the ring next month.
The ‘Gypsy King’ will take part in a non-title boxing match against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou on October 28 in Saudi Arabia.
Credit: BoxingScene