“Gone through ups and downs,” Zhilei Zhang lays out love for “sport of boxing” to initiate callout to Anthony Joshua’s Day of Reckoning performance

After his win, Zhilei Zhang calls out Anthony Joshua to hash out his Olympics loss.

“Gone through ups and downs,” Zhilei Zhang lays out love for “sport of boxing” to initiate callout to Anthony Joshua’s Day of Reckoning performance

Zhilei Zhang makes callout to Anthony Joshua, after his win (Source: Twitter/Pinterest)

Following his victory over Otto Wallin last Saturday, Anthony Joshua received another challenge. WBO interim heavyweight champion Zhilei Zhang took to Instagram to call out Joshua. The now 27-3 pro-boxer recently outperformed Wallin in Saudi Arabia. The two-time former unified world heavyweight, and the Swedish heavyweight Wallin fought at the ‘Day of Reckoning’ boxing bout. This was under the DAZN PPV banner.

Zhang, at 26-1-1, 21 KOs, is hopeful for a rematch of his 2012 London Olympics face-off with Joshua. The Orthodox Joshua has profound wins under his belt. Check out what Zhang said, initiating his callout:

I lost to a better man 11 years ago in the Olympics. I'm happy we've both come a long way, gone through ups and downs in life. Now it's time to do this for the sport of boxing and give it to the fans around the world. Let's get it on!
Zhilei Zhang on Instagram
YouTube video

Joshua is on his third winning streak after defeating the 26-2 Wallin. His previous two wins were against Helenius and Jermaine Franklin. Meanwhile, the southpaw Zhang is fresh off his second straight knockout victory over Joe Joyce. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn recently snubbed the idea of Joshua facing Joyce after the latter’s skid.

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The Joseph Parker vs. Deontay Wilder super fight took place on the same card as Joshua. Post-fight, Hearn weighed in on the skidding matter; but he is yet to express interest in Zhang’s callout for a rematch.

Anthony Joshua defeated Otto Wallin in Riyadh

Otto Wallin is a Swedish heavyweight sensation. Accordingly, he once went toe-to-toe with lineal heavyweight titleholder Tyson Fury. Despite a unanimous decision loss in 2019, he earned much praise. After 6 consecutive outings since, Wallin, however, did not stand much of a chance against Anthony Joshua.

Anthony Joshua defeats Otto Wallin
Anthony Joshua defeats Otto Wallin (Source: IMAGO)

While Joshua and he went toe-to-toe as well, the bout was more of a blow-out than matched and rhythmic boxing. Wallin’s fate was all but sealed with a big left hook, a minute before the final round ended. While he recovered, Joshua followed a corresponding slamming that rocked the boxer down finally. Check out the victory celebration below:

Wallin incurred a cut below his right eye; along with a smashed nose. Thus, his corner halted the fight. Joshua, now at 24 highlight KOs has subsequently received a callout from Zhilei Zhang next.

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