Zhilei Zhang's co-manager, Terry Lane, has claimed that Anthony Joshua's reluctance to face his fighter is 'the worst kept secret in boxing'.
Since losing for a second time to Oleksandr Usyk two years ago, Joshua has successfully rebuilt with four straight wins and will now challenge IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois in a huge Wembley Stadium Riyadh Season card next month live on DAZN.
Zhang's team feels however that it should be the Chinese fighter who should be challenging some of the heavyweight division's biggest names after stopping former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder on the Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5v5 card in June.
A fight between Zhang and Joshua has often been a topic of conversation between their respective teams, but now Lane is convinced that regardless of what happens between Joshua and Dubois, the former has no interest in facing his fighter.
"I think it's the worst kept secret in boxing that AJ wants no part of Zhilei," Lane told Sky Sports.
"There's been opportunities for them to fight.
"It's just very clear that there's no interest on AJ's end, he just wants to avoid the fight, which is unfortunate."
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