Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In a highly anticipated heavyweight bout, Zhilei Zhang delivered a stunning fifth-round TKO over Deontay Wilder, securing a crucial victory and keeping his title aspirations alive. The fight, held at the Kingdom Arena, saw Zhang overpower Wilder, who has now suffered his fourth loss in his last five fights.
Fight Recap
The fight between Zhang and Wilder wasn’t a thrilling back-and-forth affair, but it culminated in a memorable finish. Zhang, who had recently lost to Joseph Parker, managed to control the pace and direction of the fight, forcing Wilder to fight off his back foot for most of the bout. Despite Wilder’s reputation as one of the most feared punchers in boxing history, his power punches never became a factor.
Zhang capitalized on Wilder’s passivity, landing a sweeping right hook in the fifth round that left Wilder disoriented. A second right hand from Zhang sent Wilder to the canvas. Although Wilder beat the count, he stumbled as he walked towards the referee, prompting the official to stop the fight at 1:51 of Round 5.
“I successfully took his right hand away,” Zhang said through an interpreter. “I blocked a few punches, but hell yeah, he punches hard. I give a lot of respect to him; he’s a hard puncher.”
Future Implications
Zhang’s victory positions him as a strong contender for a future heavyweight title shot. The heavyweight title picture remains complex, with Oleksandr Usyk recently unifying all four major belts after defeating Tyson Fury. The IBF has indicated they may strip Usyk if he proceeds with a rematch against Fury instead of facing mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic.
If Usyk retains the title, he will face Daniel Dubois, who became the interim IBF champion by defeating Hrgovic. Should Usyk be stripped, Dubois would be elevated to world champion, potentially setting up a match against Anthony Joshua.
For Wilder, this defeat marks a significant setback in his career. The former WBC champion has struggled in his recent fights, and his performance against Zhang raises questions about his future in the sport. Despite promising a resurgence, Wilder’s reluctance to throw power punches and his visible struggles in the ring suggest he may be nearing the end of his career.
Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing’s Disappointing Night
The event also highlighted a poor showing for Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing. The night’s card was framed as a 5 vs. 5 showdown between Matchroom and Queensbury Boxing, with Queensbury winning all five matches, including two by knockout. This clean sweep, including Hamzah Sheeraz’s victory over Austin Williams, gave Queensbury a decisive 10-0 victory in the competition.
Undercard Highlights
In other notable fights on the undercard:
- Daniel Dubois defeated Filip Hrgovic via TKO in Round 8.
- Dmitrii Bivol retained his WBA light heavyweight title with a TKO victory over Malik Zinad in Round 6.
- Hamzah Sheeraz triumphed over Austin Williams via TKO in Round 11.
- Nick Ball won a split decision against Raymond Ford (115-113, 113-115, 115-113).
- Willy Hutchinson defeated Craig Richards by unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111, 119-109).
The fight results and live updates from CBS Sports kept fans engaged throughout the event, showcasing the intense matchups and dramatic finishes that defined the evening.
For more details and highlights from the fight, visit CBS Sports.
