I got dropped by Anthony Joshua but only lost because when I got up he ran away from me
ZHILEI ZHANG returns to fight in London for the first time since being put down by Anthony Joshua.
The 6ft 6in 277-pounder faces Joe Joyce at the Copper Box on Saturday night for the WBO interim title.
It comes 11 years after he boxed Joshua in the 2012 Olympic quarter-finals, losing in super-heavyweight bout on points.
Zhang was floored with a right hand but claimed AJ coasted to safety when he got back to his feet.
He told talkSPORT: “From what I remember back then the venue was very full.
“I got dropped in the second round, I got up real quick, and then he started to run away for the whole of round three.
“And then the fight was over, just like that. I lost by decision.
Joshua, 33, went on to win gold at the London Games, setting up a two-time world title winning career in the professional ranks.
Zhang, 39, captured silver and has championship aspirations of his own, starting on the weekend.
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Joyce, 37, is the mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk’s title and will defend that position against Zhang, who predicts an all-out war.
He said: “I think it’s gonna be an exciting fight too.
“We’re both strong, big punchers, it’s gonna be fireworks.”