‘I can’t watch this’: Fighters react to Deontay Wilder’s brutal knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang
Deontay Wilder may have reached the end of the road.
The 38-year-old former WBC heavyweight champion suffered yet another loss on Saturday, falling victim to a brutal fifth-round knockout at the hands of Zhilei Zhang in the main event of the Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5v5 card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The setback marked the fourth loss over the past five fights for Wilder, and polished off a clean 10-0 sweep for Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions over Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
Wilder’s latest listless performance left many of his peers to openly question whether it was the final time the combat sports world ever sees “The Bronze Bomber” in a professional boxing ring. Check out how the fight world reacted to Zhang vs. Wilder below.
The FINISH
— Boxing Social (@boxing_social) June 2, 2024
️ @DAZNBoxing #QueensberryvsMatchroom pic.twitter.com/zjg0Tu95Pz https://t.co/ziN65IPv12
Matchroom sent in the Suicide Squad, instead of the Avengers… pic.twitter.com/MJLmK4YY6e
— Jamel Herring (@JamelHerring) June 2, 2024
Goodnight pic.twitter.com/oS5swue42w
— Skye Nicolson (@skyebnic) June 2, 2024
Tables turn, bridges burn, you live & you learn ..
— Teofimo Lopez (@TeofimoLopez) June 2, 2024
Cheer up Mate @EddieHearn
Wow this fight is
— Amanda Serrano (@Serranosisters) June 2, 2024
I’ll be back for the results later.
I CAN’T watch this. It questions my intelligence & everything I know about Boxing ♀️
“He should’ve zigged when he Zhang’ed” (KF recycled special)
— Kenny Florian (@kennyflorian) June 2, 2024
Always liked Frank and George Warren
— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) June 2, 2024
Yeah, wilder is done!!!! I’m the only American fighter who be coming to the UK to whoop all yah asses…btw @KSI is ducking me and I have to clean up Deontay Wilder mess now. pic.twitter.com/qYlBb6C0yu
— Anthony PrettyBoy Taylor (@anthony_foreal) June 2, 2024
So far this is a terrible, terrible, lazy, heavyweight fight. Geez and zzzzzzzzzz. #boxing #WilderZhang
— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) June 2, 2024
And then the Big Bang BANGS!! Congrats to team Zhang, a good crew. Deontay needs to walk away; too much damage in recent years. Big night for the Warren clan. #boxing https://t.co/0bTn76ZdfL
— Lou DiBella (@loudibella) June 2, 2024
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) June 2, 2024
How the hell the ref let him spin in a circle then allow him to be punched!
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) June 2, 2024
Listen I agree. But spinning around from a punch, then being punched….. that doesn’t seem right to me. I’m trippn https://t.co/5BwP16KpBp
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) June 2, 2024
That’s why I respect the trainers that try to sharpen the tools you have, and add things to the arsenal, rather than try to make you something you’re not. https://t.co/E7T4VK6UW4
— Jamel Herring (@JamelHerring) June 2, 2024
Shout out Deontay Wilder, if this the end. The man put US heavyweight boxing back on the map when it desperately needed it. Highlight reel KO’s. Excitement. Family man. Much respect
— Dan Canobbio (@DanCanobbio) June 2, 2024
The thing that I think of is that Wilder-Joshua goes to the dustbin of #boxing history. Will never happen but should have when they were undefeated and in their prime and would have been for undisputed. #5vs5
— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) June 2, 2024