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When the debate over the most powerful punchers in boxing history is brought up, invariably there is one name near the top of everyone’s list: Deontay Wilder.
For all the American’s other limitations in terms of skill set, none of it really mattered due to his freakish, concussive power. So destructive was his one-punch power – particularly in his right hand – it was enough to carry the ‘Bronze Bomber’ to the top of the heavyweight division and reign as world champion for five years.
Wilder’s first 32 professional opponents were all vanquished by knockout, and while a look over his record would show a succession of journeymen and part-timers, he was still able to get the job done early, even in his formative years of four- and six-round bouts.
It is therefore not without irony that the first time Wilder was taken the distance was the first time he became a world champion; Bermane Stiverne was able to resist the Birmingham native’s ferocity in 2015 but was still widely outpointed as the Bronze Bomber took hold of the WBC title.
Wilder soon made Stiverne pay for ruining his perfect knockout record; two years later, he cleaned out the Haitian in the first round of a rematch.
By then, Wilder had built an aura of invincibility around himself. Whoever climbed through the ropes to face the champion would inevitably get knocked out cold – and many of them knew it, too.
Wilder Aura Vanishes In Fury Trilogy
That aura was still present after the first time Wilder fought Tyson Fury. The British fighter, not long back from a three-year absence caused by mental health and substance abuse problems, may have boxed the head off Wilder for 10 of the 12 rounds, but the American’s power always lingered; he floored Fury twice, including a monster hook in the final round that the Gypsy King somehow recovered from.
Wilder’s reputation was then further burgeoned with two brutal knockouts of Dominic Breazeale and Luis Ortiz. But then came the Fury rematch in February 2020.
Wilder was thoroughly outboxed and beaten up by a stronger, more aggressive Fury, and while the American persevered like a true warrior, he had nothing left by the time the stoppage came in the seventh round.
The trilogy bout brought more agony for Wilder. He had more success by having Fury in serious trouble with two knockdowns in the fourth round, but once again the Briton’s superior skill eventually shone through with another stoppage.
So punishing were the twin defeats to Fury that Wilder looked a shadow of his former fearsome self in his last bout with Joseph Parker. Set up to be his grand return ahead of a long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua, Wilder was instead punched around the ring by the smaller and more skillful Parker to lose by virtual shutout.
That Wilder was so gun-shy against Parker stunned everyone watching the fight. It wasn’t just that the New Zealander blunted Wilder’s right-hand bombs, but that Wilder barely tried to throw them.
Wilder Faces Pivotal Zhang Bout
Wilder’s strength is his strength. He uses it to intimidate and bully opponents in and out of the ring. But against Parker, it was the American getting bullied. The aura had completely vanished and Wilder, without that shield, looked a shell of the fighter that once ruled the division.
It makes his upcoming bout with Zhilei Zhang hugely intriguing and one Wilder simply cannot afford to lose if he has plans to continue fighting at elite level, and even get back in the title picture.
Their bout is part of the Matchroom Boxing vs Queensberry Promotions 5-vs-5 event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 1. A star-studded event being held just two weeks after the historic undisputed heavyweight classic between Oleksandr Usyk and Fury, the Saudis certainly mean business.
Wilder (43-3-1 42 KO) has been made team captain by Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, which means a victory is worth double points, adding another unique layer to an already fascinating fight.
Yet, while the 5-vs-5 looks like a fun concept, none of that will be anywhere near Wilder’s mind when he touches gloves to face China’s Zhang (26-2-1 21 KO).
‘Big Bang’ would seem a tailor-made opponent for Wilder; big, slow and an easy target, the American should have plenty of opportunities to detonate a right hand to Zhang’s head.
‘My Aggression Has Been Off The Chart’
However, the Chinese fighter enters the bout in far better form than his opponent. Zhang twice knocked out Britain’s Joe Joyce to become the WBO interim champion, and only narrowly lost to Parker in March via majority decision having floored the New Zealander twice.
In fact, it is Zhang, not Wilder, who starts as the marginal betting favorite – an inconceivable thought just a few short years ago.
Considering the whole context, Wilder needs to win if he has any hopes of launching the next chapter of his career. And the best way he knows how will be to rediscover his firepower.
The Alabaman has certainly been making the right noises this week in terms of his preparation, saying: “It’s been a real fun camp. It’s been exciting. My focus has been on point. My mindset has been on point. My aggression has been off the chart, and I’m ready to go.
“I could say a lot of things but on June 1st it’s going to be the revealing, and everyone going to be the witness of what I’m saying … I’m going back, you understand me? But we’ll see, like I said, June 1st … I’m back. I got to go get what’s mines.”
Win in typical Wilder style with a spectacular knockout and he will force his way back into the title conversation; lose and it is surely all over for one of the most exciting world champions in recent generations. It will be up to Wilder’s right hand to decide.
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