Zhang primed for power surge

Zhang Zhilei is big, but can he bang?

China's contribution to boxing's big bang theory will be tested Friday night when the 6-foot-6, 240-pound heavyweight from Zhoukou, Hennan province, makes his professional debut on an ESPN-televised card in Fallon, Nevada.

Zhang, a 32-year-old southpaw who won silver at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and bronze at the 2009 world amateur championships, will open the show with a four-rounder against Tennessee trial horse Curtis Tate, who owns a record of 7-4. Six of Tate's wins have come via KO.