Zhilei Zhang: Yes. I am ready.
IM: Are you excited to be fighting on the undercard of the big show in Las Vegas, Dmitry Bivol vs. Canelo Alvarez?
ZZ: Yes. This the third time I will be on a Canelo show.
IM: How’s your body feeling?
ZZ: Very good.
IM: Strong?
ZZ: Yes.
IM: Are we going to see you get that KO vs. Hrgovic?
ZZ: Maybe…
IM: (Laughs) But the Big Bang has to give his fans a KO!
ZZ: Yes. That’s what I want to deliver to my followers.
IM: Hrgovic is someone many heavyweights didn’t want to fight, but you are willing to take that big opportunity. Do you feel you are taking too big a risk for an IBF eliminator fight?
ZZ: Once I turned pro this is what I wanted. It is the reason I left China. I came to the United States of America for a big opportunity. I have waited for a big opportunity and once I was given that opportunity I went for it. A big opportunity at Hrgovic and then hopefully Anthony Joshua and even Tyson Fury in the future. As long as I am given a big opportunity, I will step up.
IM: Now if you win this fight, you might just get those big opportunities at both Joshua and Fury…
ZZ: We can keep talking about who’s in the future but at the moment my focus is Hrgovic. I will do things one step at one time, things will flow for me.
IM: OK, then let’s focus on Hrgovic. Tell us what you think about him? Do you see any weaknesses in him?
ZZ: Filip Hrgovic is a young talent fighter who’s coming up with a beautiful record. He is coming along very well but I can’t understand why others have turned down fights with him. When the IBF was going down their list of contender from number 3 to number 12, I was number 13. Nobody wanted to take this fight so my team asked if I was willing to do that. It was my turn, I accepted and said, sure let’s do it. That’s how this fight happened. It’s very simple. That’s the charm of the heavyweight division. You can expect anything with one punch. That’s the beauty of heavyweights. My goal is to step up and fight tougher guys. I can’t just fight tune-ups, getting easy knockouts all the time. I can’t just have that perfect [untested] record… I must step up. Once I step up, I know I will have to face guys who know how to survive. I will have to face guys who know how to bang. When talking about Hrgovic, I know the other guys refused to fight him because they didn’t want to risk their own money, fame and reputation. Those things right are not important to me. I want to fight.
IM: Now I have to ask you about this, some say you are too old to truly contend for a world title.
ZZ: A lot of guys say that I am too old to fight or that I run out of gas out too early. I would know if I was old. I would know if I gas out. My team knows and I know, that I have a reason to take this upcoming fight. Anyone can say whatever they want now, but I will see this guy in the ring.
IM: Now what’s your prediction going into this fight?
ZZ: Either he knocks me out or I knock him out
IM: We do know that in the heavyweight division anyone can get knocked out but the same time you’re not just powerful. You are also talented. You won a silver medal in the Olympics.
ZZ: In the past, I did not have the opportunity to showcase my skills. I really want this fight so that I can demonstrate my power, speed and skills, in other words my boxing IQ. This time around, I will be 100% prepared.
IM: Yes whenever I think about the talented heavyweights I think about you and Luis Ortiz. In my opinion, you two are talented compared to some other heavyweights just being big and strong.
ZZ: My entire team has the same philosophy. We are all on the same page here.
IM: Now I must ask you about the main event between Canelo versus Bivol. What’s your thoughts?
ZZ: I put my chips on Canelo who’s having a huge momentum. At the moment, he’s unstoppable. I think Canelo wins.
IM: You think it’s an easy fight? I think Bivol is a tough opponent.
ZZ: It won’t be an easy fight for Canelo. It will be a difficult fight but I think Canelo wins. Bivol is not someone to push around, he’s tough.
IM: As far as your training camp goes did you train in China or Las Vegas
ZZ: New Jersey.
IM: New Jersey. Everything has gone good with training camp?
ZZ: Yes, very good
IM: Also, I want to know, who are some of your current favorite fighters?
ZZ: [Three-belt heavyweight champion Oleksandr] Uysk and [former three-division champion Vasiliy] Lomachenko
IM: Uysk would be a good opponent for you.
ZZ: Yes maybe. (Laughs) I like his style.
IM: I think a lot of us like his style, not just you. Actually, I should have mentioned him when referring to the talented heavyweights earlier on.
ZZ: We are both southpaws.
IM: Southpaws are always tricky and difficult when it comes to boxing.
ZZ: Yes. It’s somewhat of an advantage
IM: It is, it’s tough to figure out.
ZZ: That’s the reason why I keep saying that I am a nightmare for anyone who steps in that ring with me.
IM; Final question is who were some of your all-time favorite fighters, non-active?
ZZ: Well when it comes to the last generation of heavyweights it’s Mike Tyson, Lennox Lewis, Evander Holyfield and the Klitschko brothers. I really looked up to those guys while starting boxing. I would like to join their club.
IM: You can make it...
ZZ: I am trying, it’s my ultimate dream. I am happy to have a wonderful team with me as we continue to work together.
IM: Thank you once again for taking your time to talk.
ZZ: Thank you.
