Zhilei Zhang will face former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in a undisputed light heavyweight bout as part of the Queensberry vs. Matchroom event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 1.
Deontay Wilder, also known as 'The Bronze Bomber,' who held the WBC championship from 2015 to 2020 but lost it in a rematch to Tyson Fury, is now aiming to regain his title. This match against Zhang is a crucial step for him. With a 43-3-1 record and 42 knockouts, Wilder is known for his heavy-hitting prowess.
Wilder has hinted that the fight against Zhang could be his last if he doesn't come out on top.
Zhang, with a 26-2-1 record and 21 knockouts, is a formidable opponent. Despite his recent loss at the hands of Joseph Parker in March 2024, Zhang is determined to bounce back and prove his mettle in the upcoming match against Wilder.
Zhilei Zhang vs. Deontay Wilder predictions
CBS Sports: Zhilei Zhang via UD
Staff writes: "If Wilder is ready to go and really has found his desire again, he's a fairly easy choice to do what he had always done and put Zhang down and out with an explosive shot. If Wilder doesn't have that fire, Zhang will put the pressure on early and pile up rounds to build a comfortable lead. But will that lead hold up if his tank runs dry and he becomes an open target for a Wilder right hand? Everything is a guess at this point but it keeps sticking out that Wilder admitted he struggled to pull the trigger against Parker and that's not usually a good sign in the later stages of a fighter's career."
The Evening Standard: Wilder to win by late knockout
Staff writes: "The stakes are huge in this potentially explosive heavyweight contest which is very tough to call, with defeat for either fighter another monumental setback that would surely all but end their hopes of making any further impact in the division or ever getting back into the world title picture. It is a bout between two massive punchers set up for fireworks, with both men carrying serious power capable of knocking out any heavyweight on the planet and changing any given fight in an instant."
Action Network: Deontay Wilder by KO/TKO
Bryan Fonseca writes: "Yes, Wilder is a one-trick pony with a predictable style, but the reason he got as far as he did is because he’s excellent at executing it. Just because you know a bullet’s coming when a gun is co*cked doesn’t mean you’ll know how to stop it. Wilder’s right hand has been a killer in boxing’s historically glamour division, and I think he’ll stop Zhang with it this weekend. Wilder by KO/TKO, which is available at +185 odds on FanDuel as of this writing, is the pick. If you’re betting on Wilder, the decision is a waste of time. He has one decision win in his entire career."
When does the Zhilei Zhang vs. Deontay Wilder fight start?
The card features five fights so there will be plenty of action before the heavyweights enter the ring. Although the exact walk-in times for the fighters are always a bit of a guessing game, DAZN, which is broadcasting the fight, has scheduled the event to start at 2 p.m. ET.
Zhilei Zhang vs. Deontay Wilder odds
The latest odds from DraftKings give Zhilei Zhang a slight edge over Deontay Wilder.
Moneyline: Zhang (-150), Wilder (+125)
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Zhilei Zhang vs. Deontay Wilder fight card
Fight card according to DAZN.
- Zhilei Zhang vs. Deontay Wilder; Heavyweight
- Daniel Dubois vs. Filip Hrgovic; Heavyweight
- Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Austin Williams; Middleweight
- Dmitry Bivol vs. Malik Zinad; For Bivol's WBA light heavyweight title
- Raymond Ford vs. Nick Ball; For Ford's WBA featherweight title
- Willy Hutchinson vs. Craig Richards; Light heavyweight
How to watch Zhilei Zhang vs. Deontay Wilder fight
- When: Saturday, June 1
- Where: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Time: 2 p.m. ET
- Cable TV: N/A
- Streaming: DAZN PPV
- Cost: DAZN subscription: $29.99/month; $219.89/year or PPV: $39.99 (USD)
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