ZhileiZhang
“Big Bang”
Former WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion, Olympic Silver Medalist
Zhilei Zhang, also known as “Big Bang” is a Chinese professional heavyweight boxer fighting under the guidance of Frank Warren and his team at Queensberry Promotions. With a lengthy amateur boxing background in China and a decade-long career as a professional boxer in the U.S., the now 41-year-old heavy hitter is one of the division’s most formidable forces.
This is Zhilei Zhang’s fighter profile, and over the next few sections, we will take a look at his major achievements and titles, fighting style and strengths, impact on boxing, and look back on his recent fights and some of his future prospects.
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WINS
27
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LOSES
2
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DRAW
1
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kOs
22
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WEIGHT
282 lbs
(127,8 Kg) -
HEIGHT
6’6”
(198 cm) -
REACH
80”
(203 cm)
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Trainer
Shaun George
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Born
2 May 1983
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Born in
Zhoukou, China
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nation
Chinese
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residence
New Jersey, USA
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KO Percentage
81.48%
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Stance
Southpaw
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Rounds
110
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Debut
8 August 2014
Major Achievements and Titles
Some other notable achievements during Zhang’s amateur boxing career include:
- A bronze medal at the 2009 World Championships
- A gold medal at the 2010 Beijing World Combat Games
- A gold medal at the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games
- A gold medal at the 2009 Zhuhai Asian Championships
In 2014, Zhang moved to the United States and turned professional with a debut match against Curtis Lee Tate. Less than three years later, on the 28th of September, 2018, he won his first title - the WBO Oriental Heavy after defeating Donald Haynesworth in the third round via TKO.
Just over a year later, on the 30th of November, 2019, Zhang would defend his WBO Oriental Heavyweight title against Andrii Rudenko, defeating the challenger by unanimous decision.
Zhang would box for four more years and defeat numerous opponents before he was presented with the biggest opportunity of his boxing career - a shot at the WBO Interim World Heavyweight title. To get his hands on it, he would have to beat one of the best in the division, the “Juggernaut” Joe Joyce.
And he did. After six rounds of boxing, Joyce suffered damage to his right eye due to Zhang’s heavy punches throughout the rounds. After consulting with the doctor, the judge stopped the fight, which sealed the victory for Zhang and the WBO Interim World Heavyweight title.
Less than 6 months later, he would face Joe Joyce again, this time as the champion, and would successfully defend his title after dropping Joyce to the canvas with a powerful right hook to the head.
First Honours In Boxing
Having boxed as an amateur for over a decade before becoming a professional boxer, some of Zhang’s first notable achievements in his boxing career came while he was fighting as an amateur.
Zhang’s first major achievement as an amateur boxer was qualifying for the 2008 Beijing Olympics after taking third place at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago. He was just 24 years old at the time.
Beijing Olympics
During the 2008 Olympics, he faced four opponents, defeating the first three and losing his last bout against Roberto Cammarelle from Italy. This meant that he had just won his first major medal - a silver at the Olympics while representing China.
Fighting Style & Strengths
Zhilei Zhang is one of the few heavyweights who fight in the southpaw stance, giving him a natural advantage when fighting against the predominantly orthodox competition in the division.
The southpaw stance, in combination with his towering height of 6’6” (198 cm), 282 lbs (127,8 kg) of weight, and 80” (203 cm) reach, allows him to create awkward angles, control the pace of the fight, and dominate from a distance.
Unique Style and Approach
Zhang’s fighting style is relatively straightforward. The Big Bang prefers to take advantage of his reach and regularly uses his jab to keep opponents at bay. And when the time is right, unload his devastating straight left, which we have seen take down boxers in one on many occasions.
A few of Zhang’s main strengths that work incredibly well together are his tall, heavy frame and raw power. We saw this combination of strengths unfold perfectly in favour of Zhang when he faced The Bronze Bomber, Deontay Wilder.
Despite Wilder being an inch taller and having a slighter longer reach, Zhang was almost 70 lbs (31.7 kg) heavier than his opponent, allowing him to absorb Wilder’s punches more effectively and wear him down over the course of the fight.
And at the right moment, the boxing world saw a perfect display of raw power as Zhang left Wilder stunned after a powerful right hook, which followed once more. This time, it sent The Bronze Bomber to the canvas, sealing the victory for Zhang.
Zhilei Zhang’s Impact on Boxing
Having boxed professionally for over a decade and faced some of the biggest names in boxing, Zhilei Zhang’s impact on boxing has been quite significant, particularly when it comes to the heavyweight division.
As one of the very few Chinese boxers to reach such a high level of success, Zhang’s performance in the ring has not only helped sky-rocket the interest in the sport in China, but has broken barriers for other athletes from Asia, who have struggled with paving their way to the highest level in the sport.
There are two key moments in Zhang’s career that have had the biggest impact on boxing not just in China but in the boxing world as a whole. The first was back in 2008, when Zhang boxed at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won a silver medal. Being the first Asian to win an Olympic medal in the unlimited weight class, Zhang attracted a lot of attention not just to himself but the sport of boxing.
The Rise of "Big Bang"
Years later and after rising up the ranks, Zhang started fighting against some of the heavyweight division’s best boxers and slowly but surely became a household name. The fight that had a particularly big impact on boxing was Big Bang’s matchup against Joe Joyce.
On the 2nd of February 2023, Zhang was announced to return to the ring and challenge the undefeated WBO interim champion Joe Joyce for the WBO Interim World Heavyweight title. Despite being the underdog by a long mile, after six dominant rounds, Zhang was declared the winner by TKO after Joyce suffered damage to his right eye, and the fight was stopped.
Once Zhang became the WBO interim champion, all the attention in China and the world of boxing was on him. Joe Joyce soon wanted a rematch. Five months later, the two clashed again. This time, Zhang cemented his legacy as one of the division’s best boxers after knocking out Joe Joyce in round number three to defend the title.
In 2023, Zhilei Zhang signed for Queensberry Promotions, fighting under the guidance of the world-renowned boxing promoter, Frank Warren. Zhilei Zhang’s impact on boxing was already significant but by becoming part of Queensberry, his visibility skyrocketed further, allowing any of his future achievements in the boxing scene to have an even greater impact.
Recent Fights
Unlike most professional heavyweights, Big Bang has been one of the more active boxers in the division, averaging at least two fights per year since 2021. And as a result, he has had quite a few high-profile bouts against some of the division’s best boxers.
Most recently, Zhilei Zhang faced the former WBC champion Deontay Wilder as part of the Queensberry vs Matchroom 5v5 event, which took place at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Big wins
The first four rounds of boxing were split between Wilder and Zhang, with Zhang leading 3 to 1 rounds on the judges' scorecards. Halfway through round number 5, Zhang threw a counter right hook, which stunned Wilder. With The Bronze Bomber defenseless, Zhang rushed in and delivered a stunning knockout, which left Wilder lying flat on the canvas.
Before taking on Wilder, just three months prior, Zhilei Zhang faced the #7 ranked heavyweight, Joseph Parker for the WBO Interim World Heavyweight title. The bout went on for the full 12 rounds, with Parker going down in rounds three and eight.
Unfortunately, after a very close contest, Parker snatched the win via split decision as the judges’ scorecards scored the contest 113-113, 112-114, and 111-115 in favour of Parker. This was Big Bang’s second career loss.
Prior to suffering a defeat in the eyes of Joseph Parker, Big Bang faced the undefeated WBO interim champion Joe Joyce on two occasions in the space of five months.
The first bout took place on the 15th of April 2023 at Copper Box Arena and saw the challenger, Zhilei Zhang dominate Joyce until he eventually sealed the win with a sixth-round technical knockout and securing the WBO interim heavyweight title.
In the rematch, Zhang finished Joyce even quicker, knocking out the challenger for the WBO Interim World Heavyweight title in round number three after a right hook to the head.
Fighting History
Win
5 round tko
deontay wilder
Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabi
1 Jun 2024
Loss
12 round md
Joseph Parker
WBO Interim Heavyweight Championship of the world
Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabi
8 mar 2023
Win
3 round KO
joe joyce
WBO Interim Heavyweight Championship of the world
Wembley Arena, London, UK
23 sep 2023
Win
6 round TKO
joe joyce
WBO Interim Heavyweight Championship of the world
Cooper box arena, London, UK
15 apr 2023
loss
12 round ud
Filip Hrgovic
Jeddah Superdome, Jeddah, Saudi Arabi
20 aug 2022
Win
1 round ko
Scott Alexander
WBO Interim Heavyweight Championship of the world
T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, USA
27 may 2021
Win
2 round tko
craig lewis
Madison Square garden, New York, USA
27 nov 2021
draw
10 round md
Jerry Forest
Hard Rock stadium, Miami, USA
27 feb 2021
Win
4 round ko
Devin Vargas
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, LA, USA
11 jul 2020
win
10 round ud
Andrii Rudenko
WBO Oriental Heavyweight Championship
Chansha, china
30 nov 2019
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