HAVING lost their last fights Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang are in need of a big win.
The two heavyweights both fell short against the same man – Joseph Parker – in December 2023 and March 2024, respectively, but could face one another next.
On Friday ESPN reported that a fight between the two is being discussed for June 1 in Saudi Arabia. Although it is a main event in its own right it would in fact be one of the support bouts to the undisputed light-heavyweight title main event between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. With Matchroom and Queensberry going head-to-head with their Five vs. Five series of fights on the same card there is a potentially exciting night of boxing in prospect.
Promoter Eddie Hearn, who has been working with Turki Alalshikh (the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority) on various deals including bringing Anthony Joshua to Saudi for big fights told Boxing News that nothing is confirmed for what would be a crossroads fight between Wilder and Zhang.
“As always myself George Warren, Frank [Warren], His Excellency… we talk about loads of different fights to bring to huge shows. It’s like Championship Manager. You talk about [Andy] Ruiz v Wilder, you talk about Zhang v Wilder, [Agit] Kabayel against [Daniel] Dubois, [Filip] Hrgovic against Joshua. Nothing is done but at the same time that’s a fight that would be incredible. Honestly, 30 fights have probably been mentioned.”
Two men who could talk about Wilder vs. Zhang were former WBO cruiserweight title holder turned Sky Boxing pundit Johnny Nelson and Tony Bellew’s former trainer and part-time Sky Sports pundit Dave Coldwell. The Sheffield natives were in attendance last night (March 23) at the city’s Utilita Arena to watch super-lightweight contender Dalton Smith pass his toughest test yet against former world title challenger Jose Zepeda. Following the night’s action Nelson and Coldwell talked to BN about the possibility of the “The Bronze Bomber” taking on “Big Bang”.
Zhang in action against Joseph Parker (Picture By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing)
“Good fight. If Wilder is the fighter, he was that’ll be an amazing fight,” Nelson said.
“If he’s the fighter he is now as in the fight with Parker you’ve got to think to yourself that’s a car crash waiting to happen. You look at it and think was it an off night or have we seen the best of Wilder?”
“Fun fight,” Coldwell commented. “I’d watch that. Wilder can’t look any worse than he did in his last fight and Zhang pretty much [the] same. I think it’s a great fight and I don’t know who wins so I want to see it.”