In the high-stakes world of professional boxing, the lure of a rematch between two combatants can often be a captivating narrative that captures the imagination of fight fans. But for Chinese heavyweight contender Zhilei Zhang, that elusive opportunity seems to be slipping through his grasp, as he claims that former world champion Anthony Joshua steadfastly refuses to give him a chance at redemption.

The roots of this long-simmering feud can be traced back to the 2012 Olympics in London, where Zhang and Joshua first crossed paths in the amateur ranks. On that fateful day, it was the British heavyweight who emerged victorious, dropping his Chinese counterpart en route to a hard-fought decision victory.

Now, nearly a decade later, Zhang has been vocal in his desire to settle the score with Joshua in the professional ranks. However, the 39-year-old fighter, speaking through a translator on The MMA Hour, has accused the former unified champion of purposefully avoiding a rematch.

“Mark my words, he’s not fighting me. He’s not going to fight me, ever,” Zhang said bluntly. “Because after the 2012 Olympic Games, that was when we initially collided. After that, it’s been so many years. I was with Matchroom [Boxing] and I know what happened. I don’t think he’s ever going to fight me.”

Zhang’s frustration is palpable, as he believes that Joshua’s recent opponents, such as Francis Ngannou and Robert Helenius, do not possess the same level of s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁 and determination as the Chinese heavyweight.

“Look at his previous opponents. Francis Ngannou from the UFC, Robert Helenius — I don’t think he has what it takes to stand up against me. The way he picks his opponents says a lot about him,” Zhang lamented.

The Chinese fighter went on to claim that neither Joshua nor his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have any desire to put the two heavyweights back in the ring together. Zhang believes that Joshua has become a “cash cow” for Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, and they are unwilling to risk his lucrative drawing power against a formidable challenger like himself.

“Neither does Eddie. They don’t want it. He’s a cash cow for Eddie,” Zhang said bluntly.

The closest the two fighters came to a potential rematch, according to Zhang, was in the aftermath of Joshua’s losses to Oleksandr Usyk. The Chinese heavyweight revealed that his management team flew to London to discuss a bout, only to be met with a resounding “no” from the Joshua camp.

“The closest time we had to getting the deal done was after AJ lost to Usyk and I lost to Filip Hrgovic in Saudi Arabia. My managers got an invitation, flew to London to talk to them, and got a no,” Zhang said, clearly frustrated by the missed opportunity.

Despite Joshua’s recent victories over the likes of Ngannou, Helenius, and Jermaine Franklin, Zhang remains unconvinced that the British heavyweight is truly “back” to his best. The Chinese fighter believes that until he has the chance to test Joshua with his own fists, the former champion’s comeback cannot be fully validated.

“Maybe people say he’s back. He knocked out Ngannou in two rounds, he beat Robert Helenius, knocked him out, and he beat Jermaine Franklin, Otto Wallin. I can’t say he’s back until I meet him in the ring and test him with my fists,” Zhang said defiantly.

The frustration and sense of unfinished business is palpable in Zhang’s words, as he desperately seeks the opportunity to avenge his Olympic defeat and cement his own status as a heavyweight force to be reckoned with. The prospect of a high-stakes rematch between the two fighters has the potential to captivate the boxing world, but it appears that Joshua is content to chart a different path, leaving Zhang’s dreams of revenge unfulfilled.

As the world awaits to see what the future holds for both heavyweights, the question remains: will Anthony Joshua ever agree to step into the ring with Zhilei Zhang, or will the Chinese fighter’s quest for redemption continue to be thwarted by a champion who seems unwilling to grant him that chance?