Hailing from the rural countryside of Shenqiu, in the Henan Province of Central China, Zhilei Zhang is proudly going to represent his country in Riyadh in a few hours. He is going to fight Agit Kabayel for the WBC Interim World Heavyweight title in one of the undercard events of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol rematch in the Last Crescendo Fight.

Given his origin and nationality, one might be curious to know whether the former WBO Interim World Heavyweight speaks English or not. Or at least does he understand the language? And what language does he mostly communicate in? If you find yourself interested in keeping updates regarding the underdogs, then here is everything you might like to know.

What is Zhilei Zhang’s primary language?

It’s not complicated at all. Being born and raised in China, Zhilei Zhang primarily speaks Mandarin. And it’s because of his thick Mandarin accent that his translator Kurt Li initially faced trouble when they met for the first time in the 2000s. Why? That’s because Kurt Li speaks in a Sichuan Mandarin accent, different from what the ‘Big Bang’ speaks.

Does Zhilei Zhang speak English?

The answer is yes, and no. See, Zhilei Zhang mostly conducts his interview in Mandarin. And he always has his translator/ co-manager Kurt Li beside him to ensure the smooth conduction of messages. However, before the April fight against Joe Joyce in 2023, the 41-year-old shared a sweet message for his UK fans in English. He made sure his words were crisp, loud and clear. So we can conclude, he does speak English when it’s necessary. With a translator in his pocket, he could have chosen to not speak English. But Zhilei Zhang isn’t among the ordinary Chinese boxers.

But do you know what made him go this high to speak a foreign language? It was Zhilei Zhang’s determination. The desire to reach greater heights amidst his Olympic success from 2008 to 2012. And he had to pay a heavy price for that. His decision to start a professional boxing career led him to step away from the Chinese government’s financial support. He decided to relocate to New Jersey in 2014 which required him to leave his spouse Jiang Huanhuan and their young son Jingze in China. 

However, the transition wasn’t without struggles. The 41-year-old experienced cultural differences in the U.S., while also struggling with financial problems and experiencing a slow career start together with frequent management changes. Thanks to his trainer Shaun George and co-manager/translator Kurt Li who offered vital support that helped him manage his new career’s complexities.

When Shaun George started coaching Zhang in 2017, he identified Zhang’s potential and provided structured training to refine his abilities. That resulted in Zhilei Zhang becoming the first Chinese heavyweight to win the WBO Interim Heavyweight title in 2023 after defeating ‘The Juggernaut’ twice by knockout. Though the 27-2-1, 22 KO boxer gained fame, he remains humble because he never forgets his family’s sacrifices for his career. With that said, do you think Zhilei Zhang has the upper hand against Agit Kabayel?