Zhang Vs Wilder eyed for June 1st
Earlier today Mike Coppinger broke the news that we could be set for an explosive, and unexpected, Heavyweight clash as Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21) [张志磊;] and Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42) are looking set to face off on June 1st in Saudi Arabia.
Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang are in the process of finalizing a deal for a June 1 fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sources told ESPN. The heavyweight bout will take place on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol undisputed title fight. Two monster punchers. pic.twitter.com/yPVaeHXOfC
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) March 22, 2024
On paper the bout makes a lot of sense, as both men are essentially in the last chance saloon after a recent loss to Joseph Parker, who beat Wilder in December and Zhang earlier this month. It's also a huge pay day for both men, with it coming on one of the huge cards in Saudi Arabia. It's a bout neither man can afford to lose, and from a stylistic point of view it's one that promises fire works, even if the bout isn't likely to be the most action packed.
Aged 38 Wilder is a former WBC champion, who is highly flawed in terms of technical boxing skills, but heavy handed, explosive, and has lights out power. Against Parker he was made to look slow, silly, and almost disinterested as he struggled to land anything of value on Parker, who took a wide decision over him. The loss was his first decision loss, but stoppage losses to Tyson Fury in 2020 and 2021 were damaging and punishing bouts, that could well have done long term damage to Wilder.
As for Zhang, the 40 year old Chinese fighter is also clearly on the slide, and not the fighter he once was, but he still possess good timing and power and twice dropped Parker, before losing a majority decision. Sadly for Zhang it's very much become a case of him getting his biggest bouts at the back end of his career, and his last 4 bouts have been against Filip Hrgovic, Joe Joyce, twice, and Parker, all coming after he turned 39. Now he appears to be a man who can't keep much of a work rate, and has very, very slow feet.
Given the two men are both huge bangers this does have the potential to end with an early KO, either way, but sadly neither has much of a gas tank, and this could result in the bout being one where both men are left waiting for a mistake, and both looking very timid, looking to time a counter, rather than letting their hands go.
Aged 38 Wilder is a former WBC champion, who is highly flawed in terms of technical boxing skills, but heavy handed, explosive, and has lights out power. Against Parker he was made to look slow, silly, and almost disinterested as he struggled to land anything of value on Parker, who took a wide decision over him. The loss was his first decision loss, but stoppage losses to Tyson Fury in 2020 and 2021 were damaging and punishing bouts, that could well have done long term damage to Wilder.
As for Zhang, the 40 year old Chinese fighter is also clearly on the slide, and not the fighter he once was, but he still possess good timing and power and twice dropped Parker, before losing a majority decision. Sadly for Zhang it's very much become a case of him getting his biggest bouts at the back end of his career, and his last 4 bouts have been against Filip Hrgovic, Joe Joyce, twice, and Parker, all coming after he turned 39. Now he appears to be a man who can't keep much of a work rate, and has very, very slow feet.
Given the two men are both huge bangers this does have the potential to end with an early KO, either way, but sadly neither has much of a gas tank, and this could result in the bout being one where both men are left waiting for a mistake, and both looking very timid, looking to time a counter, rather than letting their hands go.