Zhilei Zhang - The Big Problem for Big Bang Zhang in Todays Lethargic Heavyweight Landscape 

Joyce deserves credit for being in as good a position as he was and still taking a tough and very risky fight against Zhang. I've seen some people say that he should've waited or just fought lesser opposition but it was refreshing to see somebody who genuinely wanted to prove he was the best. My fear is fighters in his position in the future won't do the same, the heavyweight division is already so stagnant, the WBC champion doesn't want to fight the contenders unless he absolutely has to and the contenders (once they find themselves in a good enough position) may be tempted follow his example. On a slight side note; Zhang's whole trajectory is evidence of how deep the division truly is right now. As Rummy pointed out, after his fight with Forrest he was largely written off but was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to fight Hrgovic and put up a very good effort. He then went on to fight Joyce and was expected to lose but surprised everyone by winning both times in convincing fashion. This is the kind of thing that can happen when these heavyweights actually fight one another, there are many contenders who are largely unknown quantities, there's really no telling how many potential Zhang situations can occur but we'll likely never find out. I'm looking forward to Gassiev vs Wallin this weekend which is a risky fight for both much like Zhang vs Joyce, it's going somewhat under the radar though.

It's just sad to see a great talent like Zhang's being wasted. The top heavyweights are too scared to fight him, hiding in their little shelters.

Thanks Rummy for openly talking about something that has been frustrating us for quite some time. The division has become so painfully lethargic! How on Earth we got to the point where top heavyweights only fight ONCE a year, and fight each other once in TWO years?

Heavyweight "upset" of the year Heavyweight knockout of the year What a year Zhang is having at the age of 40!

I think we should all appreciate Joyce for taking tough fights against real boxers. The boxing fans wants to see the best fighting the best and I respect Joyce for trying to deliver. We all knew he had a limited skill set. Most fights he started the first two rounds trying out what he practiced with a new trainer (head bopping, being more evasive, feints etc.) before reverting to the juggernaut-style. If his head isn't gone he should still be dangerous against many other boxing-styles.

Big respect to both Joyce and Zhang. Their fights might not have been the best, but they weren't afraid to get in the ring against dangerous opposition

Man I only found out about Zhang 3 months ago but he has been a fast favourite of mine. Honestly hope the best for him and hope he gets some good fights. He could be a top heavyweight easily. Also very nice to see a HEAVYWEIGHT Chinese fighter. I was wondering when they would start cropping up and I'm excited to see how Chinese boxing styles develop in the future!

Great video! This year has given me a new appreciation for Zhang, Joyce, and Joshua, the only guys who have been fighting with any regularity. There's simply no excuse for Wilder or Ruiz Jr to be sitting on their asses doing nothing, and Fury needs to stop being a sideshow and start fighting real heavyweight contenders. The problem is, the belt holders want to keep their belts for as long as possible and not fight anyone who is a real risk, which I think is true more for Fury than for Usyk. The corrupt alphabet orgs need to be done away with somehow so this can't continue to degrade boxing into a third-tier sport. Well, enough on that. Kudos to Zhang for proving he belongs in the mix, and to Joyce for taking these risky fights even though he didn't need to. It's just unfortunate that Zhang is most likely going to be ducked until he ages out.

Time isn’t on his side. Take a chance. He’s already lost anyway. It’ll be his biggest payday too. He has to demand a title shot. Great video as always.

Time to start calling this garbage out. Thank you for your service.

Zhang is exciting to watch unlike Joshua, Wilder, Usyk and Fury of late who are either fighting nobodies, has beens, are inactive or avoiding each other. Because of this Zhang is the breath of fresh air the HW division needs right now.

I'm looking forward to Wallin fighting. That kid has a heart and isn't afraid. Even if he's not the most skilled, what he did with the Fury fight after his dad passed was very inspiring

Power is the last thing to go, this man really seems like the second coming of George foreman with his seemingly nonchalant punches that hit like a sledgehammer.

The heavyweight division is currently a disgrace. The belt holders should be forced to fight by a certain date or lose the belt.

Well said my man. The heavyweight division is in a sorry state.

I honestly feel Zhang is entering his real prime. He may be old but his conditioning has been improving really great since Hrgovic. Like Teddy Atlas said, some fighters don't get judged by their age chronologically, but by punches hit instead.

I agree, I just hope zhang could leave us with more memorable fights, title fights or not.

Rummy thank you for another video! We are all frothing at the mouth for your next one all love thank you!

Great video Rummy, breaking down the division. Whoever Big Bang fights next, i’ll be tuning in.

Great work, Geoff. A fabulous expose on the dysfunctional HW division where some top names aren't fighting. Thank goodness for AJ, Joyce and Zhang staying competitive and bringing us entertainment.

Good recap! I love it. AJ brought the spark back to the HW after a long lackluster period, and since he lost the belts, the HW is gradually returning to its former state. HW needs people who want to take on real challenges and not cherry-pick, holding the top spot. Can you believe people without belts are having more activity than those with belts?!

Good video as always Rummy👍 I’m thinking the most likely matchup here is Zhang vs Ruiz. The best however, as you said, would be Zhang vs wilder. What a scrap that would be. Personally seeing Zhang nip that one! We’ll see tho exciting as it could go both ways.

One of my favorite aspects about Rummy's videos is how he can smoothly recap various aspects of boxing history in any given history

so glad I watched this during my lunch break. thank you Rummys corner

It's so bad, especially comparing to how many great fights other divisions have done this year alone.

Love this channel. Your insight and well documented commentary is unmatched on RU-vid ❤

What up rummy!! Love the channel and appreciate you bro. FOR THE LOVE OF BOXING and NOT the love of how the sport works. True fight fan

It's so damn frustrating watching maybe the best crop of heavyweights we've had in a few decades just not fight each other. It's a total waste and is just putting me off boxing tbh. You can absolutely guarantee we'll see Wilder Joshua when they're both 40 and over the hill for one last payday. We'll never see Fury Usyk, mark my words. Boxing needs a shakeup.

Boxing needs to be a league system where you HAVE to fight certain guys and then the champion is crowned each year. It’s like Roger Federer holding the Wimbledon belt and refusing to play Novak Djokovic. Absolutely ridiculous!

Every day Rummy uploads a new video is a good day! Thanks a lot and have a great rest of your day, cheers!

Zhilei zhang was robbed in the filip hrgovic fight.🥊💯🥊💯

Hey Rummy Ur One of The Best , Knowledgeable & Objective Boxing Channels Anywhere! Appreciation & Respect Dude ! 😉

Always enjoy the brilliant encapsulation of events with Rummy’s corner.

We live in a time where boxers do not fear being classed as cowards or the fear of shame.

Hello friend Rummy, I am writing to you from Uruguay, I would like to know please if you can reupload the video of the story of Mike Tyson, in which at the end we thank Mike for the great moments he made us live in boxing. It was the video in which you talked about how good Tyson really was as a boxer, thank you very much, friend. Greetings!!

I agree Rummy. I personally think these guys who are trying to capture another championship (Wikder, Joshua, Ruiz) are very weary about their next moves. They are all in shape for potential championship fights or title eliminator fights. They are all coming off wins, and they don't wanna mess around and get knocked off their spots by a surprising upset. So they just sit and wait until they get what they want or until they are forced to fight by the alphabet bodies.

I have been waiting for you Rummy, For a few days now, I'm glad to hear you. 👍💯

Facts,brilliant video! Let's see who is actually going to fight zhang and not duck him! Rooting for him,he is underrated by many Can see that zhang has been training hard and toned up He looked healthy in this second fight with joyce..

Best Content Creator on the Net 💪❤️👍✌️🥊...Always my favourite corner to be sent to. Big Up Rummy Love Ur Work Bruva.

Great video. The reason for the stagnating heavyweight division described perfectly.

Thank you very much Rummy!! I've caught up a bit on the HW scene now and hope for the best but fear the worst!! Three things are stopping good fights... Money, money and money...

Nice mentioning the Tua comparison - i hope its the cautionary tale for would-be challengers waiting for their shot. Joyce just chose the totally wrong matchup and maybe underestimated Zhang

Couldn't agree more. its so frustrating for the fans that the big fights arent being made

Zhilei zhang 🇨🇳 vs Andy ruiz 🇺🇸 would be awesome in China for the WBC heavyweight position.

Great great great awesome coverage of this heavy weight division you know your stuff I appreciate you man I haven’t caught up with you in a while but I do appreciate your route. You’re on the money when it comes to analysis obviously big bang Zhang obviously was well schools and powerful, and I was very very impressed and he has deceptive power, but it any rate keep up the great work I appreciate it. I’ve been involved with Boxing for 45 years at 63. I still like to get a ring. I never thought I’d say that lol but it’s all good and keep doing a great job, my friend take care.

Been waiting for this!

I remember listening to audio of Rocky Marciano complaining that heavyweight division in 1968 was not good and this was a common sentiment, boxers were starting ti dodge other fighters and trying to get an undefeaten record, the only one not was Ali qt the time in heavyweight. He was saying it's ridiculous guys are only fighting 1-2 times a year at this point. Imagine if he saw the sport now. One title holder having 1 exhibition match in a year and the other fighting only once and against Dubois someone who is not particularly great and wouldn't even be a footnote back then.

Great video as always Rummy! I hope next year is much more active for heavyweights because it sucks how there are a good number of great heavyweights but they dont want to fight each other. Just wasting time in their career that can be put to use to improve their legacies and give the fans what they want, action. Boxing would benefit greatly if they can adopt how UFC is being ran.

After Usyk fights Hrgovic, Zhang would be next, unless they make the Fury fight. So I think that Zhang can get the title fight in 2024. The problem is what does he do till then? Take a stay busy fight and risk losing? Hard decisions.

Another gem. Thank you Rummy.

Usyk, Zhang, AJ, Joyce - all showing us the warriors they are by fighting fellow warriors. Respect to them all 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿👊🏽

Bro you are Legend..... Ma Man love how you cook this VIDEO... BARS after BARS

After they found out that Zhang has power in both hand, no one gonna want to fight him.

Your 100per cent correct mate im so sick of these organizations not making fighters fight. If they dont fight strip them immediately. They are ruining hw boxing. Esp Fury.

Maybe I am crazy, but I want to see Fury - Big Bang. I'd also want to see Usyk - Wilder, and Hrgovic - Joshua. No interest in UFC/Social Media fighters, though I really can't blame the cash grabs.

I know the sport is in trouble but channels like this one make me appreciate the sport as a whole.

I am not trying to take anything away from Zhang, the first victory was very well done and the second was superb. But I just wonder if Joyce was Zhang's ideal opponent. Whilst Joyce is a good fighter, there have always been questions over his lack of speed and inability to move his head. What has got him out of trouble is his stamina and endurance. Zhang cruelly exposed Joyce's weaknesses but I don't think the top 4 really have the same weaknesses, particularly Usyk and Fury, who are the better boxers. AJ we just don't know, with the way he is fighting and whilst I don't think Wilder is the best boxer, he always has that punch.

Hey Rummy been waiting for your breakdown my USA brother,hope life is treating you well mate 😉👏👏👏

Didnt know Zhang lost to Joshua! I wonder if Joshua would fight him again?? Would be a good fight!!

Great video coverage Rummy 🥊🥊💯 where's the activity? Iam just asking for a friend...

When it comes to athletes aging out, I think you have to take a look at the overall picture. A lot of athletes age out around 40 due to wear and tear. If Zhang doesn't have a ton of wear and tear, it's possible that he can keep going at a peak level for a few more years. On the flipside of that, Bowe had a ton of wear and tear and ended up retiring at 29.

I really enjoyed this clip, it gave a good overview of the heavy weight division and Zhang

If Joshua vs Zhang happens it'll really hammer the point of which fighters are keeping the division alive

You are correct. The heavy weight division is in disarray. If theybdo not want to fight, vacatebthe belt to who does

Zhang looks like the sort that has 7 or 8 good years left in the tank, George Foreman style!

What a great summation! Subbed!👍

Big Bang is now in my top 4 HW list. Maybe top 3 if we don't count the British Gypsy Clown.

Mr Rummy ..You sir are right on ..with what's going on in this lethargic HW division..great thoughts great video.

I think the best hope is for Zhang to grow a huge following in China. That would mean a big PPV payday would help offset the risk involved in fighting a dangerous 20 stone boxer.

Man rummy always calls it spot on it amazing to listen to his traditional honest analysis of the game!!

Imagine if that right hook landed on hrgovic's head perfectly in the first round, he would've end up even worst than Joyce. Seeing how joyce managed to stand after getting hit with that big right hook just proved how good his chin was. I swear nobody in the HW division could survive that right hook from Zhang.

Zhang is my favorite boxer right now 😄 like he was fighting his last three fights against top 10 opponents and had great performance. Fans should be more rebelious towards boxing and be more demanding.

Thank you Geoffrey, great work as per usual. Couple of thoughts. I think Zhang's style can hold up with age. Naturally has solid hand speed, good accuracy,size and bang. And yes, Zhang has added largely to this year when nothing else has really happened. The Fury vs the ' other chap' Is a bloody joke. I know the lad can fight but does have a chance unless Fury bangs a couple of pipes before entering the ring. Fury is being aloud to hold Heavey Weight boxing at random, was a fan, but no more.

Thanks Geoffrey.

Rummmmy’s Cooornneerrrr👊🏻

Great recap of recent history in the HW division.

With all respect to Joe, as he seems like a good guy, no one has an unbreakable chin. Any human can be KOd. Hard not to root for Big Bang.

Don't know a whole lot about Zhang outside these two Joyce fights but he impressed me, the power in his hands is real and he looks in good shape for his age. Obviously he's not been put under a lot of pressure by Joyce, and you'd like to see how he handled that but honestly, who outside the Top 5 or 6 fighters do you think has performed better than Zhang? Others have said it but the guy is going to be a boxing pariah because top guys won't risk their records against a tricky southpaw who's also a real puncher.

Let's go Rummy

Spot on Rummy the heavwieght division is a joke at the moment very sad and currupt, great vid I relate to the frustration

It's not age, it's mileage. Zhang has not taken a lot of punishment. Might as well be 31.

Love your vids!

I couldn't believe my eyes with some British bookies giving 11-1 odds for Zhang to win in the first 4 rounds and trying to promote even odds on Joyce to win after 6 rounds. Practically every British boxing pundit when asked if Joyce would win said yes but before they said it there was this sharp intake of breath like they didn't believe what they were saying. I saw it on Joyce's eyes on the night, he was petrified as he'd already felt his power and Zhang looked uber relaxed. Easiest money I've ever made

The Heavyweight, Light-heavyweight and Middleweight divisions really need to get their shit together.

East Asian develop a bit late, and age a bit late. So Zhang is effectively on his 35 year with western standard.

This division is a wreck right now and bad for boxing! It seems like all these dudes are just looking out for their own best interests and won’t man up to show that they’re the best. Hats off to Joyce for being the only one in the division to take a risk.

I only one thing I take issue with, Zhang didn’t drop Hrgovic with a “loopy cuffing right hand”. He pulled his head down, there’s no way that should have been called a legitimate knockdown.

The problem is that he’s 40 yrs old. Had he started sooner, it would be all roses now.

I hope fury vs ngannou proves to be as embarrassing as it sounds

Never heard of this guy before but good on him for his success.

Wbc president Mauricio sulaiman need to be fired from boxing forever.💯🚫❌😡🤬

This guy knows his heavyweight boxing.

40yo hero of the people. Unbelievable but true.

The best Boxing Ranking Rant i ever witnessed..

Excelente análisis, saludos cordiales desde 🇨🇺🇨🇺🇨🇺👏👏👏

More quality work rummy cheers

Great intro. When will be delivered to 90s style quality and competitive value? I just don't see it ever being like that again.

Best boxing channel

"Not especially fast..." There's an understatement. 😀 The first time I saw Joyce I honestly thought I was watching the between-rounds slow motion replay. But I loved that about him... he had so many fights he had no business winning, but won anyway. Joyce provided entertainment, so did Zhang, as you say. The growing presence of £££/$$$ in the sport is really weakening it... people not getting fights because they won't make enough money, or they're asking for too much of a split. We're in an age where it's impossible to say which of the top heavyweights would win in a bout because not only do they not fight each other, they haven't even fought common opponents to give you half a clue. Fury, the lineal champ, has only fought one guy in The Ring Top 10, which is pretty pathetic, really.

Great video Rummys Corner I definitely agree with you and it’s sad to see Zhang in position but also we gotta give Joe Joyce respect for even fighting big Zhang unlike those others heavy weights