Turki Alalshikh wants to set up a big fight between Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole in China. Fans have been calling for this match-up, and now it might happen.
Zhang's knockout win over Deontay Wilder and Bakole's upset victory against Jared Anderson have put both fighters in the spotlight. Now, Alalshikh, who's a fan of Zhang, is trying to make this fight a reality.
In a Twitter space with Charlie Parsons, Alalshikh shared his plans:
"We are thinking about doing something in the first week of December in China, but it is 50/50, we haven't agreed it yet… Yes [Zhang would headline in China]. You know who I want to see against Zhang now? Martin Bakole. It would be a blood fight. Why not?"
Zhang, at 41, has proven he's still a force to be reckoned with. His recent knockout of Wilder showed he's got the power to trouble any heavyweight. Many expected him to rematch Joseph Parker next to try and avenge his previous loss.
Bakole, on the other hand, is coming off the biggest win of his career. He dominated and stopped Jared Anderson, a rising star many thought would be too much for him.
When asked about a potential fight with Zhang, Bakole didn't hold back. He told reporters:
"I'll stop him. He's too old for me. I have power. I have big engine like him. I can move. I'll do things no one has ever done. And he will cry like Anderson after the fight, or maybe retire."
Zhang didn't let these comments slide. He fired back:
"That's what every fighter says before a fight. Everybody wants to make me cry, make me retire, but see what happens, we don't do talking, we do the actions, we're fighters. Everybody said they want to knock me out. Zero have succeeded … It won't last five."
If this fight gets made, it's hard to see it going the distance. Both men hit hard and have shown they can take out top opponents. Fans are excited about the possibility of this matchup, and it's easy to see why Alalshikh called it a potential "blood fight."
The ball's now in Alalshikh's court to make this happen. If he can pull it off, we might see Zhang vs Bakole in China this December. It's a fight that has boxing fans on the edge of their seats, waiting to see if these two giants will clash in the ring.
