Saudi boxing kingmaker Turki Alalshikh explained before his clash with Zhilei Zhang that an exciting win would guarantee the overdue AJ shootout in September at Wembley.
It was the Alabama puncher’s second crack after he dropped the ball in December by getting schooled by Joseph Parker. But he fluffed it again by getting knocked spark out at the end of four dull rounds – giving Frank Warren a 10-0 whitewash win over Eddie Hearn in their 5v5 battle.
And the father of eight should come good on his promise to retire on the back of a second successive defeat. It leaves Daniel Dubois in the driving seat to face AJ – after he bravely battered Filip Hrgovic earlier in the night.
The 41-year-old was a golden oldie in matching glittery gloves and shorts and was a whopping FIVE STONE heavier than the skinny Bronze Bomber. Wilder, 38, barely threw a punch in the opener, despite telling anyone silly enough to listen that he wanted ‘a body on my record’ by killing an opponent in the ring.
After a tame start, we had a lively little firefight in the second when Zhang backed Wilder into a corner and ploughed in southpaw punches. Wilder looked in danger but countered heavily enough to send Zhang packing. And a later left-hook-right-hand combination landed on the 20st Chinese giant’s huge skull. Wilder threw a couple of his old trademark right hands in the third but Zhang wasn’t affected and kept walking him down but not throwing enough shots of his own.
Thankfully the end came in the fourth when Wilder was robbed of his senses by a shot and dropped his guard. Zhang pounced and punched him almost out of the ring. Wilder looked comatose but climbed to his feet – on Bambi legs – to beat the count. But the bout was rightly waved off with Zhang back in the mix for a big fight and Wilder destined for a well earned and luxurious retirement.
