Zhilei Zhang appears close to 300 lbs for his bout with Deontay Wilder on June 1.
The Chinese heavyweight hopes to bounce back from his loss to Joseph Parker. Zhang dropped the former WBO Heavyweight Champion twice. However, he ran out of steam, getting outboxed by Parker for most of the fight. Wilder is also coming off a one-sided loss to Parker. The Bronze Bomber’s performance was below par, winning only one round on the scorecard.
His jab was rarely used, while Wilder’s right hand went missing. Zhang and Wilder know a win is vital to secure a world title shot. Zhang is 41, while Wilder is 38, which shows they are at the latter end of their careers. The tactics for the fight will be crucial. Both men are capable of stopping their opponents.
Zhang’s Weight
Wilder’s right hand is the big weapon, while Zhang’s left hand from the southpaw stance is also key for getting a stoppage. It appears Zhang is using Tyson Fury’s playbook for the Wilder fight. The following footage shows Zhang weighing 296 pounds, with the caption ‘300 pounds incoming’. He could use that extra weight to lean on Wilder, which allowed Fury to slow down the American.
Nevertheless, there is a big risk with that. Jarrell Miller weighed over 300 pounds in his fight with Daniel Dubois. During the earlier rounds of the fight, Miller could walk through his opponent. But once Dubois began using the jab, he slowed the American down, who was visibly tired.
That allowed Dubois to get the stoppage. Zhang is known for slowing down in the second half of the fight, which is why there is a risk he does the same thing. If Wilder can manage to take the fight into the second half, there is a chance he will stop Zhang. Both fighters are desperate to put on a statement performance.
Both Fighters React
“I will be his last dance partner. I don’t know if he will see the end of the dance, but I will make sure he enjoys it. Me and Deontay are both big punchers. When Chinese power vs. Alabama power, we’re going to bang the heck out of each other. Don’t blink, everything happens in one punch. I don’t think I lost my last fight, but three months, here I am again. Wilder is here to knock me out. I want to do the same thing to him. I’ll see him in the ring. I represent Queensberry now. Matchroom is history and I’m here to beat them,” Zhang stated
“This fight I’m holding it as my last stand, my last chance, and that’s what I’m taking it as. I’m just ready to do what I’m known to do and be the Wilder I am. You know, I lost my love and my passion for this business, I lost my hunger for so many different reasons.
“But now I’m in an opportunity where I’m dealing with people that I love…and it’s amazing to be around people who appreciate what they see in front of them. I’m not playing around this time, I have nothing to lose. I’ve lost a lot of things in my life, even including some of the closest people in my life, so I don’t feel like I have nothing else to lose, but only to gain,” Wilder said
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