But Tyson’s game seemed to be on the decline. Once known for his complicated offensive and defensive moves, the boxer seemed to continually rely on his one-punch knockout move to finish his bouts. He blamed his trainer for his struggles in the ring and fired Rooney in mid-1988.
An unusual training technique? Sure, but Zhang is not your usual fighter. Like, what is a two-time Chinese Olympic heavyweight doing in suburban Jersey? For that you have to go to Terry and Tommy Lane, cofounders of Lane Brothers Boxing. In 2009 the Chinese national boxing team began making sporadic trips to the U.S. for training camps. Eventually the Lanes, then small-time promoters in Nevada, began hearing chatter about some of the talent, including Zhang, who punched his way to a silver medal at the ’08 Beijing Games. The Lanes linked up with Dino Duva, a veteran U.S. promoter who had built some relationships in China. Together, the trio formed Dynasty Boxing, negotiating with the Chinese government to turn a handful of fighters pro, including Zhang, and bring them to the United States. Duva, the former president of Main Events, was based in New Jersey. So, in ’14, Zhang went there.
In February 2018, Tyson attended the international mixed martial arts (MMA) tournament in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk. Tyson said: “As I have travelled all over the country of Russia I have realised that the people are very sensitive and kind. But most Americans do not have any experience of that.”
After winning third place in the unlimited weight class in boxing in the 2001 National Games of China, he was called in as a sparring partner for the Chinese national boxing team in 2002. In 2003, he lost 22:8 in the first round of the 2003 World Amateur Boxing Championships to Grzegorz Kiełsa. At the 2004 World University Boxing Championships, he lost in the final to Rustam Saidov. Zhang enrolled at Zhengzhou University in 2005 and graduated in 2009 majoring in sports training. At the 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships in China, he beat Vugar Alekperov 20:11 before losing to eventual champion Odlanier Solis (17:7).
Boxing fans, are you ready to watch Wilder vs. Zhang headline the 5v5: Queensberry vs. Matchroom event? This Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, five of Eddie Hearn’s boxers will face off against five of Frank Warren’s boxers. Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang will face off in a headline heavyweight bout. Also on the Queensberry V. matchroom boxing boxers card is a featherweight title fight between Raymond Ford and Nick Ball and a light heavyweight title between Dmitry Bivol and Malik Zinad. Are you ready to tune in? If you’re looking for ways to watch this pay-per-view exclusive fight, we’ve got you covered. Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch the Wilder vs. Zhang fight, including the full fight card, how you can stream the boxing match for less and more.
“That’s the thing, when you’re fighting motherf***ers that have 80-something-inch reach, that’s a hard thing to do, especially when you’re trying to kickbox. “So, I think Izzy’s gonna do the right thing and just run and dance, and be a little f*cking b*tch about it.”
In 2007 behaalde Zhang de bronzen medaille op de wereldkampioenschappen in Chicago. Het jaar daarop behaalde hij de zilveren medaille op de Olympische Spelen in Peking. Hier werd hij in de finale verslagen door Roberto Cammarelle. In 2009 behaalde hij de bronzen medaille op de wereldkampioenschappen 2009 in Milaan. Zhang kwalificeerde zich voor de Olympische Spelen 2012, maar werd in de kwartfinales op punten verslagen door de toekomstige wereldkampioen zwaargewicht Anthony Joshua.
Even after two star-making stoppages of Joe Joyce last year, which earned him the WBO interim heavyweight title and the no. 3 heavyweight ranking with THE RING, George says Zhang (26-1-1, 21 knockouts) is still as hungry as he was when he first moved to New Jersey a decade ago from China to begin his professional career.
Zhang’s stamina betrayed him in his last fight against Felip Hrgovic last August and in his match against journeyman Jerry Forrest in 2021. Both of those were fights that Zhang was fighting well in the first half, but then gassed out and took punishment.
Por otra parte, las esperanzas de reunificación del país se desvanecieron pronto: aunque Sun Yat-sen viajó al norte a reunirse con los vencedores de la reciente contienda, las dos partes no superaron sus desavenencias y el fallecimiento de Sun en marzo de 1925 puso fin a toda ilusión de pronta solución a este problema.
The victory over Seldon gave Tyson the WBA championship and a legitimate claim to fighting Evander Holyfield, who he had been waiting to fight since 1991. Holyfield was seen as a washed-up fighter, in danger even of being killed in the ring by Tyson. Holyfield was a 25-1 underdog, but he would make $11 million to Tyson’s $30 million. Despite the long odds, Holyfield was the first man whom Tyson faced since he was released from prison who would fight back. In the sixth round, Holyfield opened a cut over Tyson’s left eye with a head butt and then dropped Tyson with a left hook. It was only the second time Tyson was knocked down in his whole career. At that point Holyfield said that he knew he had beaten Tyson and for the rest of the fight, he jabbed Tyson and stayed out of his rival’s reach. Tyson lost, but the fight grossed $100 million and a rematch was assured.