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Zhilei Zhang

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In this Chinese name, the family name is Zhang.
Zhilei Zhang
Zhang in 2021
Born
张志磊

(1983-05-02) May 2, 1983 (age 41)
Qianzhangying village, Shicaoji Township, Shenqiu County, Zhoukou, Henan Province[2]
Other namesBig Bang
Statistics
Weight(s)Heavyweight
Height1.98 m (6 ft 6 in)[1]
Reach203 cm (80 in)
StanceSouthpaw
Boxing record
Total fights30
Wins27
Wins by KO22
Losses2
Draws1
Medal record
Men’s amateur boxing
Representing  China
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2008 Beijing Super-heavyweight
World Championships
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Chicago Super-heavyweight
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Milan Super-heavyweight
World Combat Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Beijing Super-heavyweight
University Championships
Silver medal – second place 2004 Antalya Super-heavyweight
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Guangzhou Super Heavyweight
Asian Championships
Gold medal – first place 2009 Zhuhai Super-heavyweight
Silver medal – second place 2007 Ulan Bator Super-heavyweight
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Puerto Princesa Super-heavyweight
Bronze medal – third place 2011 Incheon Super-heavyweight

Zhilei Zhang (Chinese: 张志磊; pinyin: Zhāng Zhìlěi; born May 2, 1983) is a Chinese professional boxer. He held the World Boxing Organization (WBO) interim heavyweight title between April 2023 and March 2024 (aged 39–40). As of June 2024, Zhang is ranked as the world's fifth-best active heavyweight by The Ring magazine.[3]

As an amateur, he was highly regarded by American promoters by 2009[4] after winning a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and bronze medals at the 2007 and 2009 World Championships. His career stalled from 2009–2019, however, by a combination of his belated release from the Chinese boxing authorities to turn professional, the managerial and legal fiasco of two successive fringe promotional companies, and his visa problems. He could not line up high-profile matches until he signed Matchroom Sport in 2020 at 37 years of age. Zhang considered his fight with Jerry Forrest in 2021 to be the landmark moment of his career.[2]

Early life[edit]

Family[edit]

Zhang was born on May 2, 1983, in Qianzhangying village, Shicaoji Township, Shenqiu County, Zhoukou, Henan Province, China.[2] Zhang is the tallest member of his family. By 15 years of age, he was 1.95 meters tall and weighed 120 kg.[2] His father, Zhang Tan (1948–2020[5][6]), was 1.76 meters tall[5] while his mother, Deng Yuying stood just a shade over 1.6 meters tall.[5] His elder brother and elder sister are of a more normal height.[5]

In 2020, while Zhang made a rare visit back home the day after Chinese New Year, his father died of a sudden cardiac arrest at home during COVID-19 lockdown in China.[6] Zhang mistakenly believed his father to be choking and attempted the Heimlich maneuver to no avail.[6]

Childhood[edit]

At age seven, Zhang and his father moved to downtown Shenqiu County for educational reasons.[2] Zhang later attended Shenqiu's Huaidian Hui Town No.3 Middle School.[7] His father enrolled him in canoe sprinting lessons in order for him to lose weight.[2] The Zhoukou region was a hotbed of aquatic sports in the 1990s, with Olympic rower Mu Suli, born the same year as Zhang, growing up in a different part of Zhoukou during the 1990s.[8]

In 1995, Zhang was called up to the Shenqiu County canoe sprinting team by coach Li Guofeng (李国峰).[9] In 1998, he joined the Combat and Weightlifting Center in the Henan Provincial Department of Sports, headed by center chief Li Yan. From 1998 until he was released from his sporting obligations with the Department of Sport, he was coached by Gu Ganqing, who later headed the provincial boxing team.[10] This was the first time Zhang had lived away from his family.[11]

Amateur career[edit]

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.[2] In 2003, he lost 22:8 in the first round of the 2003 World Amateur Boxing Championships to Grzegorz Kiełsa.[12] At the 2004 World University Boxing Championships, he lost in the final to Rustam Saidov.[13] Zhang enrolled Zhengzhou University in 2005[14] and graduated in 2009[15] as the second batch of the sports training major.[16] At the 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships in China, he beat Vugar Alekperov 20:11 before losing to eventual champion Odlanier Solis (17:7).[17]

He took third place at the 2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago, thus qualifying for boxing at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he won a silver medal.[2] His fight was the last event of the 2008 Olympics. His coaches were disappointed he missed the publicity that would have accompanied winning the final gold medal for China.[18] Despite that, he attracted a lot of attention by being the first Asian to win an Olympic medal in the unlimited weight class.[19] At the 2012 Olympics, he was defeated on points in the quarterfinal by Anthony Joshua,[2] the future unified heavyweight world champion.

Professional career[edit]

Belated release from national boxing obligations[edit]

Zhang was highly regarded by American promoters by 2009[4][20] but his career stalled between 2009 and 2019 owing to a combination of a belated release from the Chinese national boxing program, poor management and promotion, and visa problems.[21] He was poorly promoted until he signed with Matchroom Sports in 2020 at 37 years of age.[citation needed]

Zhang considered turning professional at 25 years of age after the 2008 Olympics,[2] but could not until 2014.[22] Dino Duva and Don King were the first promoters to approach Zhang.[22][4] In August 2009, Duva and King arranged for Zhang to train in Pennsylvania.[10][4] In September 2010, Duva arranged for Zhang to train in the US to prepare him for the 2010 Asian Games.[23][24] Zhang was finally released from his by the Henan Provincial Combat and Weightlifting Center after he competed in the 2012 Olympics and the 2013 National Games of China.[22]

Before 2014, Zhang was a typical product of the Chinese state-centric sports development policy known as juguo tizhi (举国体制), with all his training schedule, coaching, insurance, housing, and meals arranged and paid for by the Henan Provincial Combat and Weightlifting Center.[2] Hence, few Chinese boxers turn pro.[25] The Henan Provincial Department of Sports gave athletes like Zhang opportunities in the event they didn't want to become professional.[18]

When he moved to the United States on March 8, 2014, he had to manage and self-finance aspects of his life which had previously been handled by the Henan Provincial Combat and Weightlifting Center.[2] Cooking for himself was the biggest challenge of his early days in the US[2] and in his first few months as a professional, he spent more time learning how to properly cook noodles than he did working in the ring.[2]

Zhang was housemates with middleweight Meng Fanlong and lightweight Wang Zhimin in New Jersey when he first came to the US.[26][18] Along with Zou Shiming, these four were the first wave of boxers ever released by the National Boxing and Taekwondo Center of the Department of Sports of China to turn professional.

Zhang trained in Nutley, New Jersey.[2] At his first training, he embarrassed himself by introducing himself as the 2008 Olympic silver medalist, which was met with silence and not appreciated.[2]

Promotional companies' debacle (2014–2019)[edit]

Zhang's career stalled from 2014 to 2019[citation needed] because of the debacle that saw two of his promotional companies go out of business and the legal chaos that followed.

After the 2008 Olympics, Dino Duva built relationships with China's National Boxing and Taekwondo Center and obtained exclusive rights to market all Chinese boxers.[20] As a result, Chinese boxers had little freedom to choose an alternative promoter. On March 10, 2014,[27] the 31-year-old Zhang signed a four-year[28] contract with Dynasty Boxing, a company 50% owned by Duva.[19] Zhang was Dynasty's first signing[29] and Zhang had only one fight under Dynasty Boxing. Dynasty went bankrupt[25] and closed down in December 2014.[19]

In 2015, Zhang was signed to Roc Nation Sports, which Dino Duva also joined as an employee[19] and boxing executive.[25] Roc Nation, a music promoter, entered the boxing market in 2014 with money but no plan.[25][30] Roc Nation's boxing division all but ceased working in 2018 and closed down in 2020.[30] Zhang's commercialization was also hampered when CSI Entertainment, the broadcaster that signed an agreement in 2014 with Dynasty Boxing before the latter went bankrupt, disputed Roc Nation's broadcasting rights in Asia.[19] Roc Nation was temporarily restrained from broadcasting in Asia from June 2015.[19] The New York Supreme Court only called off the temporary restraining order two years later in June 2017,[19] and the court denied Duva’s motion to dismiss CSI Entertainment’s complaint.[19]

In 2019, a year before the official closure of Roc Nation’s boxing division, the Lane brothers negotiated Zhang’s release with Matchroom Boxing USA, which Duva, again, had cut a deal with.[25] In 2024, Zhang’s co-manager recalled his promoter tried to stop him leaving by intimidation, dragging him into legal battles and refusing to line him up in fights.[31][2] Brothers Tommy and Terry Lane, sons of boxing referee Mills Lane, joined Zhang as advisers and helped guide him out of trouble.[31][2] It was not clear whether this incident was referring to Zhang's termination of contract in November 2014[19] or in 2019.[25]

Underpromoted, low-quality opponents (2014–2019)[edit]

Zhang won 19 back-to-back low-profile[25] fights under the Roc Nation banner until they parted ways in 2019. Zhang wanted better-known, tougher opponents with bigger payouts, but Dino Duva didn't do it.[31][2][25] Zhang was particularly upset once when his promoter organized a match at a high school basketball court with a portable dressing room which spectators could see into.[18] Zhang felt he was not taken seriously by his promoter.[18] When Shawn George became Zhang's head coach in 2017, he was upset by how the promoters saw him as a novelty act along the lines of Nikolai Valuev.[25] Dynasty Boxing's minority owners, brothers Tommy and Terry Lane, believed Zhang would become "the Yao Ming of boxing" and clashed with Duva over his lackluster promotion of Zhang.[25]

In his pro debut on August 8, 2014, the original opponent dropped out out a week before the bout.[25] Zhang knocked out his replacement, Curtis Tate, in the opening 17 seconds of round one.[31][32] He was paid around $5,000-7,000 for that fight.[18][2] Roc Nation's boxing division was so quiet in 2019 that Zhang's last match under Roc Nation on November 30 that year with Andriy Rudenko was in fact promoted by Matchroom Sport, which went on to sign Zhang the next year. The fight had originally been scheduled for November 2018 by Matchroom Sport but Zhang missed out because of visa problems.[21][33]

Visa and travel problems (2014–2020)[edit]

Apart from the belated release from the Chinese boxing authorities and the promotional companies' fiasco, Zhang's peak years were also squandered because of visa problems which led to the cancellation of several bouts abroad.[21] While stuck in China, his form dropped as he could not train as he usually did.

After moving to the United States in 2014, Zhang rarely visited China to see his parents, wife and son (born 2010[25]) because he had to reapply for a working visa to the U.S., the Schengen Area or the U.K. each time he returned.[34] After a fight in China, he failed to get a visa and was stuck there for ten months between October 2018 and July 2019, missing a fight with Andriy Rudenko scheduled for November 2018 in Monaco.[21][34] Once, he was stuck for too long in China and asked his manager to terminate his housing lease and sell his car in New Jersey.[18] He missed another fight scheduled in March 2020 in the United States after attending his father's funeral.[35] His flight scheduled for February 3, 2020, was two days after the United States implemented a COVID-19 travel ban on Chinese citizens.[35] The 37-year-old Zhang had to wait another eight months for his next bout on November 7, 2020 with Devin Vargas on the undercard of the WBC lightweight title fight between Devin Haney and Yuriorkis Gamboa.[36]

Nutritional disaster and Zhang vs. Forrest (2021)[edit]

Zhang's draw with journeyman Jerry Forrest on February 27, 2021 was a landmark moment in his career not because it was the first fight he did not win (22–0–1), but because it finally highlighted how poor his nutrition was. He was hospitalized after the fight and was diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia, high enzyme levels, low-level renal failure, electrolyte disorder, liver dysfunction and severe dehydration.[2][37][38] During his one-week COVID-19 quarantine in Miami before the bout, the hotel provided him only two meals a day.[18] Unfamiliar with Miami's high humidity, Zhang's water intake during his stay at hotel was insufficient and he suffered from severe dehydration.[18] Compounded by a drop in fitness from staying in the hotel during quarantine, he lost 9 pounds.[18] Zhang had been unconcerned with his weight loss since it was not an issue in the unlimited weight class.[18] His doctor also concluded that his excessive consumption of Chinese tea during training was partially responsible for his iron-deficiency anemia.[2] Since then, Zhang has stayed away from tea during training and in the immediate run-up to boxing matches.[2]

Zhang's fight with Jerry Forrest was on the undercard of the super-middleweight title fight between Canelo Álvarez and Avni Yıldırım. Although Zhang started strongly, scoring three knockdowns in the opening three rounds, Forrest was able to battle his way back to earn a majority draw. The final scorecards read 95–93 Forrest, 93–93, and 93–93, with the irregular scores owing to a point deduction against Zhang for excessive holding.[39] Many fans thought Zhang vs. Forrest was a better fight than the main bout.[2]

Transition to high-profile bouts (2021–2022)[edit]

On 27 November 2021, Zhang faced Craig Lewis on the undercard of Teófimo López vs. George Kambosos Jr. Zhang started the fight off slowly, but dropped Lewis twice in round two, leading Lewis' corner to throw in the towel, giving Zhang a win by TKO.[40]

Zhang was scheduled to fight Filip Hrgović in an IBF title eliminator on 7 May 2022.[41] However, Hrgović pulled out of the fight on 2 May, after his father died and his training suffered.[42] Scott Alexander was chosen as the replacement on the Canelo Álvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol undercard, with the fight being dropped from the co-main to the undercard.[43] Zhang won the bout via first-round knockout.[44] His fight against Hrgović was rescheduled for 20 August 2022, in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua II.[45] On that night, Zhang knocked Hrgović down in the first round with a big right. After a close-fought battle over twelve rounds, the judges awarded the fight to Hrgović with two scores of 115–112 and one of 114–113, in what was described as a "generous" decision by broadcaster Sky Sports after a "bizarre" performance by Hrgović.[46][47]

WBO interim heavyweight champion (2023–2024)[edit]

Zhang vs. Joyce[edit]

Main article: Joe Joyce vs Zhilei Zhang

On 2 February 2023, it was officially announced that Zhang would be returning to the ring at the Copper Box Arena in London, England on 15 April, against undefeated WBO interim champion Joe Joyce.[48]

On 15 April 2023, Zhang defeated Joe Joyce by sixth-round technical knockout and secured the WBO interim heavyweight title.[49]

Zhang vs. Joyce II[edit]

Main article: Zhilei Zhang vs Joe Joyce II

On 23 September 2023, Zhang beat Joyce by third-round knockout in a rematch.[50]

Zhang vs. Parker[edit]

Main article: Zhilei Zhang vs. Joseph Parker

On 15 January 2024, it was announced that Zhang would be facing former WBO champion Joseph Parker, with the fight scheduled to occur on 8 March 2024 as the co-main event of the Knockout Chaos event, at Riyadh's Kingdom Arena.[51] Zhang was defeated by Parker in a majority points decision, in which two judges had it for Parker, 114–112 and 115–111, and one judge had it even at 113–113.[52]

Post-title career (2024–)[edit]

Zhang vs. Wilder[edit]

Zhang faced former WBC champion Deontay Wilder on 1 June 2024.[53][54] He secured victory in the fifth round after landing a perfectly timed counter right hook that left Wilder reeling. With Wilder defenseless, Zhang rushed in and delivered the knockout.[55][56]

Personal life[edit]

Character[edit]

Zhang speaks the Henan variety of Central Plains Mandarin in most of his post-match interviews and on his social media Douyin and Weibo,[57][58] which has become a signature characteristic of his,[59] as those born before the mid-1980s are the last generation to speak Central Plains Mandarin fluently. The younger generation in Henan language shifted to Beijing Mandarin.[60][61][62] Zhang's English translater and later his co-manager Kurt Li (李茂沛), a Sichuan Mandarin speaker, did not fully understand him whey they first met.[18]

Hobbies and Interests[edit]

Zhang drinks a lot of Longjing tea[28] especially while training. This came to public awareness on February 27, 2021, after the fight with Jerry Forrest, when he was hospitalized and diagnozed with iron-deficiency anemia, high enzyme levels, low-level renal failure, electrolyte disorder, liver dysfunction and severe dehydration,[2][37] which his heavy intake of tea was attributed to be one of the factors,[2] along with his poor management of nutrition and fitness at hotel during COVID-19 quarantine in Miami.[18] To distract himself from Chinese tea culture, he developed other hobbies, such as constructing cameras, barbecue grills and car washing equipment.[2] He also skeet shoots in New Jersey.[2]

Marriage and Family[edit]

Zhang's wife, Jiang Huanhuan (蒋欢欢), is a retired starting pitcher for the Henan provincial softball team.[63] They met in 1998, started dating in 2000, and married in December 2006.[63] They had a son, born 2010.[25] Zhang rarely visits his wife and son in China due to problems re-entering the United States.[34]

Match records[edit]

Professional (2014–)[edit]

30 fights 27 wins 2 losses
By knockout 22 0
By decision 5 2
Draws 1
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round, time Date Location Notes
30 Win 27–2–1 Deontay Wilder TKO 5 (12), 1:51 Jun 1, 2024 Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
29 Loss 26–2–1 Joseph Parker MD 12 Mar 8, 2024 Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Lost WBO interim heavyweight title
28 Win 26–1–1 Joe Joyce KO 3 (12), 3:07 Sep 23, 2023 Wembley Arena, London, England Retained WBO interim heavyweight title
27 Win 25–1–1 Joe Joyce TKO 6 (12), 1:23 Apr 15, 2023 Copper Box Arena, London, England Won WBO interim heavyweight title
26 Loss 24–1–1 Filip Hrgović UD 12 Aug 20, 2022 King Abdullah Sports City, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
25 Win 24–0–1 Scott Alexander KO 1 (10), 1:51 May 7, 2022 T-Mobile Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
24 Win 23–0–1 Craig Lewis TKO 2 (8), 2:10 Nov 27, 2021 Hulu Theater, New York City, New York, U.S.
23 Draw 22–0–1 Jerry Forrest MD 10 Feb 27, 2021 Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida, U.S.
22 Win 22–0 Devin Vargas KO 4 (10), 1:49 Nov 7, 2020 Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
21 Win 21–0 Andriy Rudenko UD 10 Nov 30, 2019 Casino de Salle Medicin, Monte Carlo, Monaco Retained WBO Oriental heavyweight title
20 Win 20–0 Don Haynesworth TKO 3 (10), 1:48 Sep 28, 2018 Dayun No. 1 Stadium, Changsha Social Work College, Changsha, China Retained WBO Oriental heavyweight title
19 Win 19–0 Eugen Buchmueller KO 1 (10), 1:03 Jul 20, 2018 WinnaVegas Casino Resort, Sloan, Iowa, U.S.
18 Win 18–0 Byron Polley TKO 1 (10), 2:30 Sep 23, 2017 Hartman Arena, Park City, Kansas, U.S.
17 Win 17–0 Nick Guivas TKO 1 (10), 2:43 Aug 5, 2017 Claridge Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
16 Win 16–0 Curtis Harper TKO 1 (8), 2:34 May 26, 2017 Hotel & Club, Boca Raton, Florida, U.S.
15 Win 15–0 Mark Brown KO 1 (8), 2:03 Apr 29, 2017 CenterStage@NoDa, Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.
14 Win 14–0 Peter Graham KO 1 (10), 2:58 Jan 21, 2017 Hebei Sports Venue, Shijiazhuang, China Won vacant WBO Oriental heavyweight title
13 Win 13–0 Galen Brown TKO 2 (6), 1:50 Dec 10, 2016 Marina Bay SportsPlex, Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.
12 Win 12–0 Gogita Gorgiladze TKO 1 (8), 1:17 Sep 30, 2016 Wenzhou Gymnasium, Wenzhou, China
11 Win 11–0 Rodney Hernandez UD 6 Jul 22, 2016 Claridge Hotel & Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
10 Win 10–0 Jamal Woods TKO 2 (6), 0:41 Jun 11, 2016 Marina Bay SportsPlex, Quincy, Massachusetts, U.S.
9 Win 9–0 John Orr TKO 1 (6), 2:27 May 13, 2016 D.C. Armory, Washington, D.C., U.S.
8 Win 8–0 Tyree Ortiz TKO 3 (4), 2:14 Mar 26, 2016 Oracle Arena, Oakland, California U.S.
7 Win 7–0 David Koswara TKO 1 (6), 0:37 Feb 20, 2016 Lanzhou Gymnasium, Lanzhou, China
6 Win 6–0 Juan Goode UD 4 Nov 21, 2015 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
5 Win 5–0 Dennis Benson TKO 6 (6), 0:56 Aug 15, 2015 The Playground, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.
4 Win 4–0 Glenn Thomas UD 4 Jun 6, 2015 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
3 Win 3–0 Eric George UD 4 Mar 14, 2015 Jersey City Armory, Jersey City, New Jersey, U.S.
2 Win 2–0 Perry Filkins TKO 1 (4), 1:10 Jan 17, 2015 Mohegan Sun Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Curtis Lee Tate TKO 1 (4), 0:17 Aug 8, 2014 Churchill County Fairgrounds, Fallon, Nevada, U.S.

Amateur (1998–2014)[edit]

Olympic Games
2008 Olympics (as a Super heavyweight)
2012 Olympics (as a Super heavyweight)
World Championships
2003 World Amateur Boxing Championships (as a Super heavyweight)
2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships (as a Super heavyweight)
2007 World Amateur Boxing Championships (as a Super heavyweight)
2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships (as a Super heavyweight)
Others
2004 World University Boxing Championships
2010 Asian Games
  • Defeated Ivan Dychko 7-5 (Kazakhstan) to win gold medal.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "BoxRec: Zhilei Zhang". boxrec.com. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab 李佳浚 (2024-05-31). "张志磊：重剑锋利" [Interview with Zhang, the sharp, heavy sword]. Eco体育产业生态圈.
  3. ^ "Ratings". The Ring. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  4. ^ a b c d "Hall of Fame trainer Duva to work with China's Zhang". Reuters. 2009-08-21.
  5. ^ a b c d 路红; 任磊; 王玮皓 (2008-08-19). "张志磊拳击进四强创历史 张爸爸：志磊拿奖牌了". 大河报.
  6. ^ a b c 谭琳畅(host) (2023-01-06) [2022-12-14]. 张志磊梦想巅峰极限拳王路《纽约会客室》. SinoVision. 19-22 minutes in – via YouTube.
  7. ^ 彭慧 (2008-08-26). "表哥王付威:我一直默默为他祝福" (PDF). 周口晚报. p. 3.
  8. ^ 任磊 (2008-08-23). "张志磊初出茅芦引起关注 自己称还没想职业拳手". 大河报.
  9. ^ "张志磊被推荐为全省先进典型人物". 沈丘县融媒体中心. 2018-10-23 – via 沈丘县人民政府.
  10. ^ a b 谷锦华 (2010-03-10). "张志磊在美集训收获大 教练：强调技术合理简洁". 中国体育在线.
  11. ^ 任思玄 (director and scriptwriter) (2023-09-21). 大爆炸:张志磊的成名之路 (documentary). 3-7 minutes in – via Weibo@张志磊boxing. For English subtitles, see Sylvia Ren (director and scriptwriter) (2023-09-21). Zhilei Zhang - Becoming a Boxing Champion, Full episode (documentary). 3-7 minutes in – via YouTube@toprank.
  12. ^ "12. World Championships - Bangkok, Thailand - July 6-12, 2003". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved June 6, 2024.
  13. ^ a b "2004_WUC_Boxing_results.pdf" (PDF). Federation Internationale de Sport Universitaire. FISU. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  14. ^ 程鹏, ed. (2021-08-09). "郑州大学体育学院崔新东，奥运赛场被封神". 郑州大学体育学院党委宣传部 – via 河南高教.
  15. ^ 程鹏 (2023-09-23). "亚洲唯一！校友张志磊成功卫冕". 郑州大学体育学院新闻中心.
  16. ^ 杨红光 (2005-09-22). "我校学生张志磊为河南省夺得十运会首金". 郑州大学新闻网.
  17. ^ "13. World Championships - Mianyang, China - November 13-20 2005". Amateur Boxing Results. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m 徐梅 (2024-04-12). "张志磊饥饿的拳王". 南方人物周刊.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g h i Csi Entm't, Inc. v. Dynasty Boxing, LLC, 31554 (New York Supreme Court 2017), archived from the original on 2024-06-05.
  20. ^ a b Skretta, Dave (October 2010). "Boxing on the rise in China while US team rebuilds". Associated Press – via San Diego Union-Tribune.
  21. ^ a b c d 张斌 (2019-12-02). "张志磊击败乌克兰悍将重回世界拳王挑战台". 海外网.
  22. ^ a b c 王小娟 (2014-03-13). "张志磊妻子：他一直都想进军职业拳坛 终圆自己的梦". 大河报.
  23. ^ 杨莉; 吴莹 (2010-08-30). "张志磊下月赴美"留学" 霍利菲尔德加盟教练组". 华奥星空.
  24. ^ 杨莉 (2010-10-19). "师从霍利菲尔德 铁拳王子张志磊为亚运再次留美". 华奥星空.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Mannix, Chris (2024-02-14). "Zhilei Zhang Is China's Big Hope for Boxing Greatness". Sports Illustrated.
  26. ^ Wan, Xin (2016-12-12). "Zhang Zhilei: 2017 will be the biggest turning point in my life". ESPN China.
  27. ^ Rafael, Dan (March 10, 2014). "Amateur Zhang Zhilei goes pro". ESPN. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  28. ^ a b Wan, Xin (2016-09-30). "Inside Chinese boxer Zhang Zhilei's journey to make it as a heavyweight". ESPN China.
  29. ^ Fischer, Doug (2014-03-10). "Dino Duva Joins Chinese Boxing Market With Heavyweight Zhang Zhilei". Ring.tv.
  30. ^ a b Woods, Michael (2020). "Jay Z and Roc Nation Leave the Boxing Promotional Business". Ring.tv. Archived from the original on 2024-06-06.
  31. ^ a b c d 任思玄 (director and scriptwriter) (2023-09-21). 大爆炸:张志磊的成名之路 (documentary). 17–22 minutes in – via Weibo@张志磊boxing. For English subtitles, see Sylvia Ren (director and scriptwriter) (2023-09-21). Zhilei Zhang - Becoming a Boxing Champion, Full episode (documentary). 17–22 minutes in – via YouTube@toprank.
  32. ^ Ellis, Jordan (18 September 2023). "Zhilei Zhang scored 'softest KO of all time' when opponent dramatically fell to the floor from a shoulder punch". talkSPORT. Retrieved June 2, 2024.
  33. ^ Hits, Random (2 December 2019). "Duva: Zhang Zhilei Proved That He Belongs in Heavyweight Mix". BoxingScene.com. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  34. ^ a b c 周超 (2018-11-16). "张志磊因签证丧失绝佳机会蒙特卡洛砍大纛计划失败". Sina News.
  35. ^ a b Idec, Keith (2020-03-10). "Heavyweight Zhilei Can't Leave China; Career Stalled By Coronavirus Travel Ban". Boxing Scene. Archived from the original on 2024-06-07.
  36. ^ "Heavyweights Filip Hrgovic, Zhang Zhilei score knockouts on Haney-Gamboa undercard". The Ring. 2020-11-07. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  37. ^ a b Lane, Terry (Feb 28, 2021). "Terry Lane statement". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-03-30. he is suffering from anemia, high enzyme levels, and low-level renal failure that may have been caused by severe dehydration
  38. ^ Stumberg, Patrick L. (2021-03-01). "Zhang Zhilei hospitalized after draw with Jerry Forrest". Bad Left Hook. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  39. ^ "Zhilei Zhang Fails to Beat Jerry Forrest – Anthony Joshua Fight Hopes in Tatters". EssentiallySports. 2021-02-28. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
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  42. ^ "Filip Hrgovic Withdraws from IBF Eliminator with Zhang Zhilei on Canelo-Bivol Undercard". 2 May 2022.
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External links[edit]

Sporting positions
Regional boxing titles
Vacant
Title last held by
Joseph Parker 		WBO Oriental
heavyweight champion
21 January 2017 – 2020
Vacated 		Vacant
Title next held by
Joseph Parker
World boxing titles
Preceded by WBO heavyweight champion
Interim title
15 April 2023 – 8 March 2024 		Succeeded by
Joseph Parker
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Zhilei_Zhang&oldid=1227867012"