Heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis has called for Deontay Wilder to retire from boxing following his crushing defeat at the hands of Zhilei Zhang. The former WBC heavyweight champion was knocked out by the Chinese powerhouse in the main event of the Matchroom vs Queensberry show in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.
Zhang landed a brutal right hook in the fifth round that left Wilder staggering and disoriented in the ring. Moments later, Zhang delivered another devastating punch that sent ‘The Bronze Bomber’ crashing to the canvas. Although Wilder managed to get up before the referee’s count, he was clearly out on his feet, prompting the official to stop the fight.
This marks Wilder’s second defeat in six months, having been outclassed by Joseph Parker in December. With two knockout losses to Tyson Fury already on his record, Wilder has now lost four of his last five fights, casting serious doubts over his future in the sport.
Lennox Lewis, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, has now advised Wilder to consider hanging up his gloves for good. “The Bronze Bomber told us before the fight that he would retire if he didn’t win. I think that is a wise decision,” Lewis wrote on X (formerly Twitter). “He has more than carved out a life in which he can take care of his daughter, so before he suffers any more damage, it is best to leave the game with your faculties intact because there’s a LOT more life to live after boxing.”
Wilder’s defeat to Zhang has also likely dashed any hopes of a long-anticipated showdown with Anthony Joshua. Joshua, who was watching from ringside, witnessed his old rival suffer yet another setback. Meanwhile, Daniel Dubois defeated Filip Hrgovic on the same night, potentially setting up a bout between Dubois and Joshua at Wembley Stadium in September.
Despite the loss, Joshua urged Wilder not to rush any decisions regarding his future. “It’s completely up to him, I can’t say,” Joshua told DAZN when asked if Wilder should retire. “I just look at and say, ‘if you want to do it, do it,’ it’s not a big deal boxing. If you want to fight, fight on, and if you don’t want to do it, don’t do it any more, it’s just where your heart’s at.”
Joshua acknowledged the quality of Wilder’s opponent, Zhilei Zhang, noting the Chinese fighter’s Olympic pedigree and seasoned professional experience. “He went in there against a good fighter in Zhilei, he’s an Olympian, Zhilei, people forget that, he’s come through, he’s got a great style, I fought him before in the Olympics and he’s still doing what he does now, so many years on. He was in with a real good, seasoned professional with a great pedigree.”
Reflecting on Wilder’s future, Joshua added, “It doesn’t matter, come again if you want, and if you don’t, you’ve got your family there, there’s another life outside of boxing for him.”
As the boxing world waits to see what Wilder’s next move will be, the consensus among many is clear: it may be time for one of the sport’s hardest hitters to consider life beyond the ring.
