A heavyweight crossroads combat between former WBC champion Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang is being negotiated for June 1st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Each fighters are coming off disappointing defeats in opposition to Joseph Parker and want wins to maintain their careers alive.
If it will get finished, it will likely be on the undercard of the undisputed gentle heavyweight championship conflict between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol on the Kingdom Enviornment in Riyadh.
Double Dose of Disappointment
The 38-year-old Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) has misplaced three out of his final 4 fights and appeared uninspired in his final contest in opposition to Parker on December twenty third.
Wilder spent many of the combat shifting across the ring, failing to let his arms go, and showing timid. He made Parker look good compared, which was laborious to do as a result of he’d been seen as washed going into the competition.
Former WBO interim champion Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) misplaced to Parker by a 12-round majority choice earlier this month on March eighth in Riyadh. Zhang knocked Parker down twice however didn’t step on the gasoline resulting from stamina points. He appeared too heavy to let his arms go the way in which he had in his consecutive knockout victories over Joe Joyce.
“Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang are within the means of finalizing a deal for a June 1 combat in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sources instructed ESPN. The heavyweight bout will happen on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol undisputed title combat. Two monster punchers,” stated Mike Coppinger on X.
And the Level of This Battle Is…?
Boxing followers on social media are lower than enthused at seeing Wilder and Zhang combat, as they would favor to see different match-ups involving the pair.
A rematch between Zhang and Parker would have made extra sense, provided that many felt that the two-time Chinese language Olympian had finished sufficient to deserve a win in opposition to him.
In Wilder’s case, he appears to be like shot at 38, and it doesn’t matter who he fights. The ambition and the starvation that the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist as soon as had is gone after making a ton of cash from his three fights in opposition to Tyson Fury.
Wilder’s two knockout losses in these fights additionally seem to have dented his confidence, as he appeared afraid to throw in opposition to Parker.
The loser of the Wilder vs. Zhang combat would possibly have to retire as a result of there gained’t be lots of affords for giant paydays.
