What is an honest rating of Zhilei Zhang

Zhang will fight an upcoming prospect next year and lose. Thats how the rest of his career will unfold.

Zhang has top 10 contender skills, serious power and a good chin, but that gas tank is just too terrible. After a decent pace for 4 rounds he becomes too hittable, easy to outmaneuver and too basic. I feel bottom of the barrel top 10 guys like Parker or Ruiz could beat Zhang.

Zhang does beat Whyte though, and possibly AJ. They're too chinny

 

I hope Zhang fights at least one good opponent before he retires just to see how good / bad he is. Being 39 doesn't help Zhang either.

 

would like to see him in with the likes of Chisora, Whyte, Dubois........all winnable fights for Zhang.

wouldnt be shocked to see him as one of Joshua's comeback opponents over the next year. Be great to see him smash AJ

 

rate him around 20th best

 

First the things that I don't think many people will dispute.

• Huge one-shot power, uncanny ability to corner his opponent and unload a big shot early. Really great timing and anticipation.
• Limited mobility. His mobility and willingness to get his weight on his front foot vary from fight-to-fight. Not the best hand speed.
• Limited gas tank. Seems drained from the 5th round onward. This was evident as far back as his fight with Rudenko.
• All things considered - probably as dangerous as any heavyweight out there for about 3-4 rounds.

Now a more controversial observation...

I think Zhang Zhilei has one of the biggest hearts we've seen in the sport for many years. He kidneys had basically shut down against Forrest while Jerry unloaded lots of nasty-looking shots to his body - but he somehow stayed on his feet. He was beyond exhausted by the 10th round against Hrgovic and couldn't even lift his arms up by the 12th round - yet Filip (who is a heavier hitter than Jerry Forrest) didn't stop him, either. People accused Zhang of just giving up during that last round - but he was simply depleted and staying on his feet was simply the act of an iron will.

In summary, he's doomed to be an under-appreciated fighter who probably never gets his chance due to a combination of injuries and a career that simply didn't progress fast enough.

 

When it comes to fringe to mid level contenders..Zhang can hang.

Can't doubt his physical abilities and now question marks about his durability I think can be put to rest.
Not a "stayer" but seems to have addressed some issues that were present against Forrest. A big unit like that needs a functioning cooling system.

 

Nicely put! Sadly, a bit late in the game for him to have that cooling system installed.

Zhang Zhilei has had bone & joint problems for years. Plantar fascitis, too (not what you want when you're trying to put weight on your front foot sitting down into a punch). This probably was the case as far back as his fight with Juan Goode in 2015 - a four round fight that saw Zhang actually get dropped by Goode in the final round. A shocker, as Goode was a journeyman of no particular distinction who vanished from the sport after a couple of stoppage losses.

 

He's big, a good counter puncher and can clearly bang so he's dangerous but due to his age and meager gas tank is also limited. With him being a southpaw too you could say he's Luis Ortiz 2.0 and he might every well be at that level, not as great as some may make him out to be based on the Hrgovic fight but not some journeymen either, dangerous but limited sums him up for me. C+/B- rating.

 

Top 15 talent. Has very poor stamina.

 

He's not a 14 stone fighter!

 

Soilid Chin .... Heavy hands... determined.

 

Hmmm...

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I would say he is @TOP20.
He probably could beat:
AJ, Whyte, Yoka, Helenius, Kownacki, Martin, Bryan, Washington, Rice, Chaney, Kean, Allen, Babic, Guidry, Polite Coffie and so on. And I hope he gets 1-2 good fights and paydays before retiring.

I honestly would like to see him against Yoka lol.

 

Man, Zhilei Zhang is a beast...

 

I dont know how rate him but i know how rate the robbery he got by Hrgovic