In a landmark achievement on June 1, Chinese boxer Zhang Zhilei delivered the biggest win of his professional career by defeating former World Boxing Council (WBC) world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder via a fifth-round knockout in Riyadh. This victory not only cements Zhang's status in the boxing world but also serves as a beacon of inspiration for China's upcoming Olympic delegation.
As the Paris Games draw near, the two-time Olympian reflected on his experiences in Beijing and London during an interview with Sport Scene's Greg Laffradi. \"The feelings were the same. Before turning professional in boxing, the Olympics are our highest honor, so we represent our country in the Olympics and fight for the honor of the country,\" Zhang shared.
He continued, \"And even though after turning professional, I no longer represent the national team, when I step out of China, I represent China. So every time I fight, you can see China's national flag on my boxing shorts, and I will tell the boxing fans around the world: 'This is Chinese Power'.\"
With China's Olympic delegation set to embark on their journey to Paris next month, Zhang emphasized the importance of mental fortitude and national pride. \"As a senior Olympian, I want to tell them: relax your mind and do your best to show 'Chinese Power' to the world. I hope all of them can achieve good results in Paris,\" he concluded.
Reference(s):
Zhang Zhilei: Relax your mind and do your best to show 'Chinese Power'
cgtn.com
