Zhilei Zhang makes it as The Ring's number 10 heavyweight

Bakole should be in the ranking.

 

He's always gonna get the benefit of the doubt bc of the potential huge money fights he can make in China.

This is a guy who was lucky to get a draw against Jerry Forrest despite having 3 knockdowns in the opening round. He was nearly klitscko'd (a la sam Peter) by Jerry Forrest who I love on a personal level but who is not a great fighter.

Then he loses (albeit controversially) to Hrgovich, who may just not be as good as advertised.

That's pretty much his resume of note going 0-1-1 against 2 guys who are not proven at a high level at all.

He's being maneuvered into a title shot even though he's really not performing as he needs to.

So yeah, kinda bs ranking imo.

That said he's entertaining so I'm not that mad about it. Should see a spectacular fall eventually.

 

1. He never fought Chris Lovejoy
2. He received three knockdowns over three rounds, not three in the first round. Aka worth 6 points instead of four
3. He outlanded Forrest in 5 rounds while knocking him down in three separate rounds. Only reason he even drew was because he had a point taken off.

I agree though that he's not too proven in the pro ranks, although I am happy to see him ranked, so deserving or otherwise.

 

Woops got Forrest and Lovejoy mixed up. He still gassed that fight and looked very bad after the first 4 rounds.

 

Seems about right. The HW division falls off pretty quick after the top 10.

 

After the first two (Fury, Usky) it's not exactly a Murderers' Row, now it is?

Parker, Whyte, Ortiz, Hrgovic are underachievers IMO. Or hypes. Or just plain mediocre.

 

You can tell he never fought Chris Lovejoy because Zhang's head is still attached to his shoulders.

Hrgovic used his purse to hire someone to check under his racecar shaped bunkbed to see if Lovejoy is hiding there.

It's one name you damn sure won't hear Fury or Usyk call out after they win undisputed.

 

And rightfully so. He got shafted against Hrgovich.

 

List of names that have REFUSED to call out Lovejoy:

Filip Hrgovic
Oleksandr Usyk
Tyson Fury
Canelo
Muhammad Ali
Ricardo Lopez
@cross_trainer
Ricardo Lopez from Hajime no Ippo
Bruce Lee
Ivan Drago

 

I WANT LOVEJOY!

MAKE THE FIGHT!

 

I wouldn't have him top 10 if the Hrgovic loss was considered legit but since I thought he won I don't mind it.

 

I'd take him to KO Can'thony.

 

I just took a look at the list and I don't mind it at all. Looks like they're rewarding guys for getting in the ring and it's not just February 2020 frozen in time still.

I will say though, if they were going to reward valiant defeats and maybe correct some judging I think they could have squeezed old Del Boy in there.

Also at this point Fury is back right? I respect them taking the champion designation after an announced and repeatedly confirmed retirement but he's back now so he has to be #1 contender.

 

Zhang probably won't be on the list long since Fury is "back" (as if he ever left), so I imagine soon he'll be ranked number 1 and Zhang will be bumped off of there. I mean, unless someone with a big fight coming up loses in spectacular fashion or someone retires, I guess.

That being said, I'm glad to see this guy get some appreciation. Not sure why but ever since I heard of him shortly after getting into boxing, I've had a soft spot for the old guy. Sure, he ain't the greatest ever, but I've always enjoyed what I've seen. I hope he can earn another chance at a title one day, or at least get some better names on his resume, maybe even some headlining bouts. I'll definitely always be pulling for him.