Huge Chinese Welcome to Big **** Zhang... Home Coming
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How can you not like this guy?!
I've been following this guy for years and years and I knew that he was worlds beyond Junlong Zhang, Zhiyu Wu and Taishan Dong, who were Veeeeeery tightly protected and going nowhere ever; but Zhilei Zhang was far beyond that level as far back as 2002. A Very Different bird 100%.
The reason that Zhang didn't begin with a pro career traveling through China fighting provincial champions (and they've got them) is because by the time he turned pro he had already surpassed everything that the entirety of Asia could feed him.
So he maintained a top status in the amateur ranks for 7 or 8 years, like the Soviets and Cubans used to do.
His pro career started slowly as his ability to maintain good sparring and preparation was challenging to say the least, and when he struggled against decent Rudenko and Forrest, I figured that was it, he had topped out, and he was left too long on the shelf.
Imagine my glee when he finally realized his full potential last year and this, against Hrgovic and Joyce!
Holy cow!
Today, he has become the IT man in China.
They understand that table tennis and basketball are only games, but a fight is a demonstration of real dominance, and following China's "Century of humiliation", as it is known there, and modern combat sport making a mockery of their cherished Martial arts traditions, Zhilei Zhang is now being looked upon to spread Chinese power and masculinity all over the world.
And he's the ONLY one to do this on such a massive platform. Ever.
(Bruce Lee was a mythological fighter on film if we're being truthful, and little more).
If he can remain a top 4 heavyweight for another 2-3 years, his impact within Chinese culture....I cannot overstate.
Most westerners simply have no idea.
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Remain top 4?How can you not like this guy?!
I've been following this guy for years and years and I knew that he was worlds beyond Junlong Zhang, Zhiyu Wu and Taishan Dong, who were Veeeeeery tightly protected and going nowhere ever; but Zhilei Zhang was far beyond that level as far back as 2002. A Very Different bird 100%.
The reason that Zhang didn't begin with a pro career traveling through China fighting provincial champions (and they've got them) is because by the time he turned pro he had already surpassed everything that the entirety of Asia could feed him.
So he maintained a top status in the amateur ranks for 7 or 8 years, like the Soviets and Cubans used to do.
His pro career started slowly as his ability to maintain good sparring and preparation was challenging to say the least, and when he struggled against decent Rudenko and Forrest, I figured that was it, he had topped out, and he was left too long on the shelf.
Imagine my glee when he finally realized his full potential last year and this, against Hrgovic and Joyce!
Holy cow!
Today, he has become the IT man in China.
They understand that table tennis and basketball are only games, but a fight is a demonstration of real dominance, and following China's "Century of humiliation", as it is known there, and modern combat sport making a mockery of their cherished Martial arts traditions, Zhilei Zhang is now being looked upon to spread Chinese power and masculinity all over the world.
And he's the ONLY one to do this on such a massive platform. Ever.
(Bruce Lee was a mythological fighter on film if we're being truthful, and little more).
If he can remain a top 4 heavyweight for another 2-3 years, his impact within Chinese culture....I cannot overstate.
Most westerners simply have no idea.
beating a defenseless Joe Joyce does not put you in the top 4Comment
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