The buzz was at an all-time high earlier today when Matchroom, Queensberry & Top Rank announced the biggest undisputed light heavyweight clash in our generation, Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol, along with what is being called a ‘5 vs 5’ pitting Matchroom’s five fighters against Queensberry’s. The event will take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, June 1 on ESPN+. Within that ‘5 vs 5’ is an intriguing matchup between two heavyweights coming off of tough losses within the last six months. Zhilei ‘Big Bang’ Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) will face Deontay ‘The Bronze Bomber’ Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) in a fight that means everything for both fighters. The loser will have to head to the back of the line, and with both fighters at or near the age of 40, this is a must-win for both fighters.
Zhilei Zhang Must Get Back To His ‘Big Bang’ Ways
A little over a month ago, Zhang faced Joseph Parker in a fight that would have placed him at the doorstep of a world title. Zhang would come a little heavier (291 ½ pounds) than he ever has, but considering his past performances, it was slightly ignored. Whether he will ever admit it or not, Zhang gassed out in the championship rounds, and the extra weight he put on didn’t help. After the fight, he said he got a little overconfident as he knocked down Parker twice. Regardless of the reason, the championship rounds cost Zhang the fight and derailed his momentum.
After the fight, Parker had just about assured everyone that the rematch was next, as there was a clause in the contract that would see the men run it back. About two weeks later, rumors started circulating that Zhang would face Wilder on June 1, but nothing was confirmed until today. Wilder was supposed to be the one who faced Zhang in March instead of Parker, but a deal was not made for one reason or the other. Now, Zhang will face Wilder, who doesn’t look like the same fighter he once was but still has that destructive right hand.
Will This Be Deontay Wilder’s Last Fight, or Will His Story Continue?
An argument can be made that much of Wilder was taken from him in those two Tyson Fury fights. Yes, he knocked out a super faded Robert Helenius in October 2022 but then fought Parker in December, where he lost a clear unanimous decision. Wilder looked like a shell of himself in December, and many thought he would retire after that fight. Wilder is back, and he still feels plenty is left in the tank that can cause destruction inside the ring.
At age 38, is Wilder still a threat in the heavyweight division? As long as his right hand isn’t broken, he will always have a chance, but he may be closer to the end than a title shot. This fight has a lot at stake, and if he ever wants one last shot at a world title, he must knockout Zhang and recapture the hearts and minds of the boxing world.
Early Preview of Zhilei Zhang vs Deontay Wilder
The reason this fight is so intriguing is that when you analyze it, you’ll see that there are opportunities for both men to get knocked out. Zhang’s combination punching can move Wilder back with his hands down like he usually does, which opens up the straight right hand down the middle for him.
On the other hand, Wilder has that destructive right hand, and Zhang doesn’t have the head movement ability to get away from it. Wilder can land on Zhang during those slow moments when Zhang is taking a breather and appears vulnerable. Can Wilder land a hard enough right hand to knock Zhang out? History says yes, but Wilder is also open to being knocked out as well.
My Three Cents
There is a reason this fight has been trending on social media since it was announced, as fight fans eagerly anticipate the outcome of this one and the main event on June 1. The fight won’t be on PPV, which is a relief as it will be streamed live on ESPN+. With such a loaded card, can it be June 1 already?
More must-reads: