Zhang back with bang to sound Joshua warning

Unbeaten Chinese heavyweight Zhang Zhilei produced a Hollywood finish for his first fight in nearly a year on Saturday night.

In the featured prelim to Devin Haney's successful WBC lightweight title defense against former featherweight champ Yuriorkis Gamboa in Hollywood, Florida, the 6-foot-6, 260-pound (1.98-meter, 118-kilogram) southpaw from Zhoukou, Henan province, improved to 22-0 by notching his 17th KO: a spectacular fourth-round stoppage of veteran American brawler Devin Vargas (22-7).

Zhang, a two-time Olympian who won silver at the 2008 Beijing Games and dropped a decision to current world champion Anthony Joshua at London 2012, patiently picked apart Vargas from the opening bell, working behind a piston-like right jab and an effective body attack, punctuated by withering left hooks.

Vargas, who represented the United States at the 2004 Athens Olympics, had no answer for Zhang's accurate punching, and repeatedly retreated to the ropes.

In the fourth round, Zhang swarmed him with a series of lefts to the head, which sent the American to the canvas after just 49 seconds. Referee Frank Gentile reached the count of 10, with Vargas' corner urging him to stay down in order to allow for medical assistance.

The 37-year-old Zhang, who signed a multi-fight promotional deal with Eddie Hearn's London-based Matchroom Boxing in August, is ranked No 11 by the World Boxing Organization. Saturday's win－h(huán)is first outing since winning a 10-round decision over Ukraine's Andriy Rudenko last November－could move him a step closer to another crack at Joshua.

"I just need an opportunity to become the best in the world, which I strongly believe that Matchroom is able to provide. With each of us focused on our part, I wish for a happy and successful future together," Zhang said when he signed the deal.

"It's always been a dream of mine to chase greatness and make the world aware that a Chinese heavyweight is coming to do damage. I have been preparing and training hard for whoever they put in front of me. I'm here to make my presence felt."

His long-time adviser, Terry Lane, believes it's only a matter of time.

"Zhilei is a very talented top heavyweight who is definitely in the mix. We want to use this to build the boxing industry in China," Lane told Sky Sports.

"We have big plans. His next couple of fights will be in the US, but Matchroom shares our vision of a major, major fight in Beijing or Shanghai. That is the goal for everybody.

"China wants to be the best at everything so they want a mega-fight with a top heavyweight like Joshua or Tyson Fury. That is the aim for us.

"We're closer to it now than we were a few months ago."