In a highly anticipated bout at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Zhilei Zhang delivered a decisive fifth-round knockout to Deontay Wilder, handing the 41-year-old “Bronze Bomber” another loss.
The fight, which was billed as a clash of power punchers, quickly showed Zhang’s offensive prowess. Both fighters began tentatively, but it was Zhang who landed more effective punches early on. Wilder, recently criticized for his hesitance in the ring, struggled to find his rhythm and let his hands go, a flaw that persisted through the first four rounds.
DEONTAY WILDER GETS KNOCKED OUT 🤯#QueensberryVsMatchroom | Live NOW | Live on DAZN: Click link in bio to buy.
#5vs5 | #RiyadhSeason | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/T8jpAbmrnw— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) June 2, 2024
Zhang’s victory capped off a successful night for Queensbury promotions, who went 5-0 in a unique pay-per-view event that matched five of their fighters against five from Matchroom Boxing.
This defeat marks Wilder’s second consecutive loss and his fourth in the last five fights. His only victory during this stretch was a first-round knockout against Robert Helenius in October 2022. Given Wilder’s age (38) and recent performance, speculation about his retirement is mounting. Before the fight, Wilder acknowledged that another loss could force him to consider ending his career.
“If I don’t get the win, we don’t know where we’ll go from here. Retirement could be a very big and serious conversation,” Wilder told Tris Dixon of Boxing Scene. “This is a very important fight for me and in terms of my future.”
Should Wilder choose to retire, he would do so as a significant figure in modern heavyweight boxing. His tenure as the WBC heavyweight champion from 2015 to 2020 included nine title defenses, all won by knockout or TKO.
For Zhang, this victory opens new opportunities. Despite past losses to Filip Hrgovic and Joseph Parker, a win over a fighter of Wilder’s caliber boosts his standing in the heavyweight division.
The heavyweight landscape is thriving with talent. Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk recently showcased their skills in Saudi Arabia, and their rematch is highly anticipated. Anthony Joshua is on a four-fight win streak since his losses to Usyk, and Daniel Dubois, who defeated Filip Hrgovic on the undercard of the Zhang-Wilder fight, is another rising contender.
Zhang’s victory over Wilder positions him as a serious contender in this competitive division, potentially setting up future high-stakes matchups.
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