Interim WBO heavyweight champion Zhang Zhilei revealed that former UFC champion Francis Ngannou refused to share the ring with him on December 23 in Saudi Arabia.
Zhilei told MailOnline:
There were originally talks to have me fight Ngannou [on December 23] and I was like, "Okay, it's a walk in the park for me, I'll take it". But Ngannou didn't want to do it. And then it's what you see. The big names started to come in like Joshua filling the card. And that's what happened.
Zhilei last fought against Joseph Joyce in September this year in London. In that confrontation, Zhang won by knockout in the third round. He has 15 wins (14 by knockout) and two losses.
Ngannou last entered the ring against Tyson Fury in October this year in Saudi Arabia. That fight lasted the entire distance and ended in a split decision defeat for Francis. It was the Cameroonian's debut in the professional ring.