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Zhilei Zhang KO’s Deontay Wilder

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Jun 2, 2024 9:38 AM ET

Deontay Wilder said that he still had the passion to keep on fighting and get back to the contention for another title shot. Based of looking at his body language throughout the fight against Zhilei Zhang, you could clearly tell that Wilder wasn’t really present like we’re use to seeing. In the fifth round Zhang caught Wilder with a right hook that made Wilder ring-around-the-rosey then Zhang finished him off with another right hook. Some how Wilder got up to beat the 10 count but it was clear that he wasn’t in no condition to continue. The referee called off the fight as Zhang pull off the knock out victory Saturday night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

ZHILEI ZHANG KNOCKS OUT DEONTAY WILDER IN THE 5TH ROUND

(via @DAZNBoxing) pic.twitter.com/UP7kZGITSL

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 2, 2024

The final farewell?

This loss looks like it’s the end of the road for the former heavyweight champion of the world. He’s hinted that if he were to loose he could walk away from the sport. Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) is what makes the heavyweight division so special, one punch can change it all. Nobody did it better than the ‘Bronze Bomber’.

Zhang (27-2-1, 21 KOs) scored the biggest win of his career with this fight. Now he’ll be in a position to go after a elusive title shot. Going for a rematch with Joseph Parker is on the table and also a fight with Daniel Dubois who defeated Filip Hrgovic on the undercard. Zhang has leverage and at the age of 41, his career is hotter than it’s ever been.

“I have to pay attention to his right hand, but I successfully took his right hand away,” Zhang said through a translator. “I block a few punches, but hell yeah. He punches hard. I give him a lot of respect. He’s a heavy puncher.”

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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