The Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5v5 features a matchup of premier power-punchers as former WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder will face Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) on Saturday, June 1st, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, live on DAZN PPV.
The winner will be in a position to obtain additional big-money fights, while the loser will suffer a damaging career setback. Both Wilder and Zhang are heavy-handed knockout artists, and that’s the main reason why many people predict the fight will not go the distance.
After a memorable trilogy against Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder took a year off. He returned to the squared circle in October 2022. With 11 seconds remaining in the opening round, Wilder knocked out Robert Helenius with a devastating right hand.
Fourteen months later, Deontay Wilder was set to fight Joseph Parker. Wilder was making his first ring appearance of 2023 while Joseph Parker competed inside the squared circle for the fourth time in the same calendar year. With a win over Parker, Wilder was set to face the former two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Wilder put on a mediocre performance as he constantly telegraphed the right hand, and as a result, Parker was able to avoid the power punch all night long. On offense, Joseph Parker was sharp and disciplined as he cruised his way to a unanimous decision victory.
Due to the Parker upset, the highly anticipated Wilder vs Joshua match was scrapped. Now the 38-year-old Tuscaloosa, Alabama native Deontay Wilder (43-3-1 42 KOs) says he has regrouped and he plans on prevailing in a match that resembles a crossroads fight.
In August 2022, Zhilei Zhang suffered a controversial loss to Filip Hrgovic. He would bounce back in impressive fashion as he scored a sixth round TKO victory over Joe Joyce. Five months later, in the rematch, Zhang knocked Joyce out when he landed a devastating right-hand shot in the 3rd round.
Zhang would go on to square off against Joseph Parker in March 2024. Zhang dropped Parker in the third and eighth rounds, but as Zhang started to experience fatigue, Parker was able to rally back down the stretch and earn a majority decision victory.
Now, the Zhoukou, China native Zhilei Zhang plans on bouncing back, as he is on the verge of facing an opponent who is the hardest-hitting puncher in the fight game.
Like Wilder, the 41-year-old Zhang has tremendous punching power, but his boxing skills and ability to set up his shots will be his keys to victory.
Zhang is very good at controlling range and distance. The southpaw Zhang is at his best when he utilizes the high guard, catches, and then throws his powerful countershots.
Zhilei Zhang can gain a significant advantage if he controls range and makes it an inside fight. When fighting on the inside, Deontay Wilder is not good on offense, and he’s defensively irresponsible.
Deontay Wilder needs to get back to being Deontay Wilder. In his fight with Parker, Wilder was constantly off balance, had difficulty fighting off his back foot, and wasn’t able to set his feet properly to deliver his most potent weapon.
In his upcoming bout against Zhilei Zhang, Deontay Wilder needs to be the person pressing forward and dictating the pace of the fight. Wilder must use his jab to set the distance, then fire his lethal right hand.
Zhang is the better boxer, skill-wise, but he could be tailor-made for Wilder because he’s a stationary target. Wilder could also possibly benefit from Zhang’s history of stamina issues.
On Saturday, June 1st, live on DAZN PPV, a battle between two hard hitting power punchers will take place. Deontay Wilder vs Zhilei Zhang is guaranteed to be a very entertaining fight, but the question is, how long will the entertainment last?
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