Britain’s Joe Joyce will face China’s Zhang Zhilei on April 15 in London at the Copper Box Arena.
“The Juggernaut” is looking to fight the winner of Tyson Fury against Oleksandr Usyk, should it happen this year.
“It will be good preparation for Usyk or Fury,” Joyce said. “There will be some real big punches exchanged. I’m sure it will be a good fight.”
Joyce will be defending his interim WBO heavyweight belt and if he beats Zhang he would be in a great position to fight for a world title.
Usyk currently holds the WBO belt, as well as the WBA (Super) and IBF world titles.
Zhang, 39, comes into the competition after his first loss as a professional to Filip Hrgovic last August.
Joyce thinks Zhang was unlucky to drop points against the Croatian and expects a big challenge from the Olympic silver medalist.
“Zhang is a big, strong southpaw who is massive,” he said.
“He has the experience and I think it will be a great fight. He hits so I will have to be careful.”
