After the weigh-in ceremony, Zhilei further commented on his opponent and tactics.
"I know Makhmudov and I thought he should have beaten Kabayel, but he surprised me with his tactics, pressing and body punches. His next opponent, Frank Sanchez, is a very good boxer, very technical, but his punches lack power, so he couldn't stop the attacking Cabayel with them. He came to the middle distance without any fear, because even if he missed a counterattack, it wouldn't have made much impression on him. But in the fight with me, it will look different and Cabayel will have to accept that if he goes to the middle distance without defense, I will test him hard and he will feel it," said Zhilei, who weighed in yesterday at 130.4 kilograms. The much lighter Kabayel will enter the ring at 109.3 kilograms.
Recall that at stake in this fight will be the belt of the interim WBC heavyweight champion and the status of mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs).