Chinese heavyweight Zhilei Zhang has called for a showdown with British veteran Derek Chisora.

“I’m thinking about someone,” Zhang (27-3-1, 22 KOs) said in an Instagram video before old footage of Chisora and him talking at ringside began to play.

Over the top of the George Michael ballad “Careless Whisper”, Zhang looked into the camera and spoke directly to Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs).

“I want to fight you,” he said. “I want to bang you. Maybe you want to bang me, too.”

It is believed that Chisora will make his 50th – and supposedly final – professional appearance at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena on December 13. Undefeated Moses Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) is scheduled to headline the event. At the time of writing, neither man has an opponent confirmed.
Last February, Chisora, 41, rolled back the years and dominated Otto Wallin over 12 rounds, but his hopes of securing an unlikely world title shot before calling time on his near 19 year-long career have been dealt a significant blow.
The No. 1 position in the IBF’s heavyweight rankings is vacant, but while Chisora sits at No. 2, the governing body recently announced that former champion Daniel Dubois (22-3, 21 KOs) will take on Cuba’s Frank Sanchez (25-1, 18 KOs) in the final eliminator.
Zhang’s schedule is currently empty. He hasn’t boxed since suffering a sixth round stoppage at the hands of Agit Kabayel last February.

The 42-year-old, who stopped former WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder in June of last year, has been competing at the highest level of heavyweight boxing for the past few years and won’t want to take too big of a backward step.

Zhang is no stranger to British shores. In 2023 he recorded back-to-back victories over Joe Joyce in London. Chisora remains an incredibly popular figure and his high world ranking would also make him an attractive option for Zhang.