Terry Lane Hints at Possible Zhang vs. Wilder Showdown in Boxing's 2024 Landscape
Terry Lane hints about a potential clash between Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang and former WBC champion Deontay Wilder. The news emerged following the announcement of Anthony Joshua facing Francis Ngannou on March 8, injecting some much-needed excitement into the sport after a slow start to the year. Chris Mannix added fuel to the fire when he tweeted, "Zhilei Zhang, the Chinese heavyweight who scored back-to-back knockout wins over Joe Joyce last year, is expected to appear on the card. One fight that has been discussed: Zhang-Deontay Wilder." To validate these rumblings, ProBoxTV reached out to Terry Lane, Zhang's advisor, for insights into the potential matchup. "I guess it’s kind of out there. Things are moving fast this afternoon," Lane responded. "Zhilei (Zhang) kind of rested up some wear and tear. He’s back in the gym now, and he would love to fight (Deontay) Wilder. We think it’ll be a great fight." Zhang, at 40 years old, had a remarkable 2023, rebounding from a loss to Filip Hrgovic with two decisive victories over Joe Joyce. Lane highlighted Zhang's growing popularity, citing the astonishing 60 million viewers in China for Zhang's rematch with Joyce. Lane emphasized that Zhang isn't shying away from challenges and clarified that the potential Wilder matchup stems from the unavailability of other big names in the heavyweight division. "With (Daniel) Dubois and (Joseph) Parker taking brakes right now, (Oleksandr) Usyk fighting (Tyson) Fury in February, and now Joshua vs. Ngannou in March, the next biggest fight to make in boxing is Zhang and Wilder," Lane explained. While the prospect of a Zhang vs. Wilder showdown is tantalizing, Lane cautioned that negotiations must be navigated carefully, acknowledging the unpredictable nature of the business side of boxing. If the Saudi organizers are committed to making the fight a reality, it could potentially add another blockbuster bout to the already intriguing 2024 boxing landscape. #ZhileiZhang #DeontayWilder #Boxing2024 #BoxingRumors #TerryLane #HeavyweightClash #SportsNews
