Zhilei Zhang re-announced himself as a menace to the heavyweight throne with a knockout win over Deontay Wilder, with there being a rising feeling that this might have been Wilder’s remaining look within the ring. With that in thoughts, Zhang made his emotions on these rumours clear in a post-fight message.
Zhang gave the impression to be on a collision course to the world titles when he twice knocked out Joe Joyce throughout 2023, cracking the granite chin of the ‘Juggernaut’ with back-to-back profession finest performances and incomes the each WBO interim title and necessary challenger place within the course of.
Nevertheless, Joseph Parker derailed the plans of the 41-year-old with a majority-decision victory again in March, assuming his place because the WBO necessary challenger.
‘Huge Bang’ Zhang gave the impression to be again to sq. one however accepted a showdown with Deontay Wilder the place the winner could be thrust into title rivalry and the loser could be ignored within the chilly and presumably pressured to retire.
The Chinese language heavyweight sensation swarmed Wilder from the get-go with relentless stress and utilized his close to 70-pound weight benefit to face in entrance of ‘The Bronze Bomber’ and shut the space successfully to take the sting out of his trademark right-hand, earlier than wobbling the American within the fifth and shutting the present with a prodigious right-hook while Wilder’s again was turned.
With 4 losses in his final 5 contests, many imagine that that is the tip of the highway for the previous WBC heavyweight champion however on social media, Zhang claimed that he may nonetheless really feel the facility of his opponent and declared that followers shouldn’t ‘write him off simply but’.
“Goodbye the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It’s all the time been a pleasure preventing right here. The world is watching the Kingdom turning into the centre of boxing now. Thanks to my dance accomplice @bronzebomber. I all the time respect you as a person, a father and a warrior.
“I felt your energy Saturday evening, the facility that may knock anybody out clear. I’m comfortable we each got here out the ring wholesome and secure. Return to your loved ones and luxuriate in your time.
“Boxing is nice with the Bronze Bomber. Don’t write him off simply but. Thanks to my staff. Thanks @queensberrypromotions @matchroomboxing for working collectively for this historic occasion. Particular thanks to @turkialalshik, the person who makes issues occur. Can’t wait to get again within the ring once more.”
Zhang now finds himself in a curious place as arguably the perfect heavyweight to not be in line for a shot on the world titles. As an alternative, a rematch with Joseph Parker and an opportunity of vengeance would doubtless be his favoured route, however whether or not the Kiwi would settle for that problem is one other query.
In the meantime, Deontay Wilder has virtually actually misplaced the chance to face long-term rival Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou would most likely be the one pay-per-view worthy opponent that he could be favoured to beat – however the Cameroonian is about to debut within the PFL later this 12 months.
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