ZHILEI ZHANG saw Chinese compatriots getting attacked in New York during the Covid-19 pandemic but was too big for the cowards to target.
The Beijing 2008 Olympic silver winner trains as a pro in New Jersey and has adopted the US as a second home.
But when coronavirus gripped the world – and ex-president Donald Trump made a series of allegations against China – 39-year-old Zhang felt like the enemy in the Land of Opportunity.
Thankfully life is almost back to normal and Zhang was welcomed to London last week to take on Putney’s 37-year-old Juggernaut Joe Joyce at the Copper Box on Saturday.
Recalling the torrid time his innocent fellow expats faced, the softly spoken giant told SunSport: "We saw people getting pushed on the subway in New York City.
"I would probably never become a target in the street, because of my size, but I do have Chinese friends and business owners in New York who have been targeted.
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"These people have suffered, not just financially but also mentally and emotionally.
"I don’t think it is the right thing to do, I don’t agree with politicising the pandemic, it should not be used as something to attack people.
"People and human beings are innocent, nobody wants anyone to be sick, suffer or be infected.
"Nobody wanted the virus and nobody wanted the impact it has had on the world.
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"Thankfully now we are moving on and getting back to living our lives in a positive way.”
With China being the cradle of martial arts and boxing coming under that huge and money-spinning umbrella, it’s strange that 6ft 6in Zhang remains a rarity.
But the 24-1-1 southpaw explains very wisely why a population of 1.4billion people have ZERO world boxing champions and just a few Asian fighters, largely representing Japan in the lightest weight classes.
"When I got the silver medal in 2008, boxing was still a minor sport in China,” he said.
"In China the major sports are diving, table tennis and soccer. Even after I got my silver medal I didn’t get recognised a lot. But I know what I have achieved and how far I have come.
"Last time I fought in Las Vegas, my fight got 60 million views in China, that was record-breaking and historic, so I hope my career is helping make boxing a bigger success in China.
"Maybe there are a couple of reasons why boxing and Asian countries haven’t really taken off.
"One might be Geography, Asia is a pretty remote region, cut away from the likes of Europe and the Americas.
“Also Asian guys are traditionally smaller guys, so we have stars like Manny Pacquiao but they operate in the smaller divisions, which don’t get as much attention as the bigger guys from around middleweight and above.
“I am not from a big family at all, it really is just me! My parents are just average sized”.
Before Anthony Joshua agreed to fight Jermaine Franklin in his comeback bout in April 1, promoter Eddie Hearn teased the idea of taking him on a round-the-world tour and facing Zhang at the iconic 80,000 seat Bird’s Nest Stadium.
Sadly it was another bluff but Zhang hopes our London 2012 legend is not getting written off by the British public he won over so spectacularly over the last decade.
"We talked about something but it was premature," Zhang confirmed.
"Maybe after two losses to Usyk he is scared of southpaws forever now?
"But I don’t think there is any fear among the top boxers – in any division – I believe that we are all fighters who want the biggest and best fights.
"But I do believe and understand how promoters and broadcasters want to protect their investments, they are the ones who are scared of a loss.
"Joshua has lost a few times but look at his wins, the respect is there.
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"I don’t think Joshua fears anyone but I think the business people and investors in him are protecting their career with smart business moves.
"He might have lost some confidence but I think he deserves time and recognition."
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