Chinese heavyweight Junlong Zhang (18-0, 18 KOs) will return to the ring on May 14th in Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada, against Mexico's Guillermo Casas (10-2-1, 6 KOs), after a nearly five-year break in his career. The 41 year-old Zhang (not to be confused with better-known Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang who won an Olympic medal and is poised to fightin an IBF final eliminator) has been residing in Toronto for some time, where he spent the entire pandemic as due to flight restrictions, he was unable to return to China. But he built a gym in his home that allowed him to stay in training. Last January, Zhang suffered the death of his wife Nana, who was an exemplary companion and a key player in his career. Cause of death was the coronavirus, Zhang returned to the gym and did a great preparation for this fight that he will be dedicating to Nana.
BOXINGTALK COVERAGE FROM DEC. 1, 2014:
Zhang Junlong TKO3 Jason Gavern... Big Chinese heavyweight Zhang Junlong recorded a career-best win on Sunday in Wuhan, China, defeating American Jason Gavern. Nicknamed “The Dragon King”, Junlong dominated the experienced and usually tough Gavern, scoring one knockdown in round three before referee Wang Yuejin declared the local man a TKO winner. With the victory, Junlong improved to 8-0 since turning pro in October 2012. Heis age is listed as 34 (Junlong should not be confused with another Chinese heavyweight, Zhang Zhilei who won an Olympic medal and is 1-0 as a pro). Gavern, who a year ago defeated James Toney, falls to 28-18-4. source: wbf press release
