Chinese heavyweight Zhang Zhilei to battle American Deontay Wilder, says ‘carelessness’ cost him Parker fight
- Wilder’s signing with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing to take on Queensberry Promotions is a surprise as the pair have been at loggerheads for years
- Both fighters are going into the bout on the back of losses, with Zhang’s coming against Joseph Parker in March
Chinese heavyweight Zhang Zhilei has vowed to overcome the “carelessness” that cost him his fight against Joseph Parker, when he takes on Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia in June.
The pair will clash as part of the five-versus-five card between Matchroom Boxing and Queensberry Promotions in Riyadh, after Wilder sensationally signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom outfit.
Wilder’s decision came as a shock, given he and Hearn have been at each other’s throats for the better part of a decade.
Frank Warren, head of Queensberry Promotions, said that it was a big fight for both fighters, who are going into the bout on the back of losses, as their “careers are on the line”.
Zhang still has a rematch clause he can trigger, following his majority decision loss to Joseph Parker for the WBO interim heavyweight title in March.
Parker beat Wilder on points in December 2023 before he went on to take the interim title from Zhang.
“My defeat to Joseph Parker in March was down to my carelessness,” Zhang said in an interview with CGTN Europe. “My tactics were not appropriate and I didn’t manage to use some of the strategies I practised in my training.”
Zhang added that Wilder’s style was “quite different” from Parker’s but believed his southpaw stance would give him the advantage.
“I’ll need to guard against his heavy punches [but] my punches are also powerful, of course. I need to adjust my training accordingly.”
Wilder’s involvement was only made public when Matchroom and Queensberry unveiled their fighters at a news conference in London, with all 10 brawlers wearing white masks – with Wilder the last man to be unmasked.
“Nobody ever thought me and Eddie would be working together. This is the ultimate surprise,” Wilder said.
Hearn responded: “For one night only, we work together.”
Hearn added at the press conference on Monday: “Deontay Wilder versus Zhilei Zhang is a massive, massive heavyweight fight between two punchers.
“I looked at the heavyweights available, [and] I think this man [Wilder] has long been one of the most dangerous punchers in the division.”
Wilder has won just one bout since November 2019, and the 38-year-old acknowledged he was running out of chances.
“We’ll see if I’ve got it or not. This fight I’m holding it as my last dance, my last chance,” he said.
“I lost my love and passion for this business. I lost my hunger for so many different reasons. I’m not playing around this time. I’ve got nothing to lose.”
In the other fights on June 1, heavyweights Daniel Dubois and Filip Hrgovic will meet in a world-title final eliminator and featherweight Nick Ball will challenge WBA world champion Raymond Ford.
Briton Hamzah Sheeraz and American Austin “Ammo” Williams will meet in a middleweight clash, while an all-British cruiserweight fight starring Willy Hutchinson and Craig Richards is also on the undercard.
