Inspired by Klitschko conversation, Wilder looks to rebound vs. Zhang
Former heavyweight titlist, who contemplated retirement and wondered if he was a shot fighter, returns to headline the '5 vs. 5' card
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When former longtime WBC heavyweight kingpin Deontay Wilder faced Joseph Parker in December on the “Day of Reckoning” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he fought perhaps the worst fight of his career.
Wilder was lethargic in the desultory decision loss (120-108, 118-111 and 118-110) in which he barely threw punches, landed a measly 39, and never came close to landing his money punch — a devastating right hand that ranks among the most destructive weapons in boxing history and knocked out most of his opponents.
At 38 and having lost for the third time in his last four fights — the other two losses were by knockout to Tyson Fury in world title fights — many questioned whether Wilder had any future left in the ring. He questioned himself as well and contemplated retirement.
Though he did not want to elaborate, Wilder told Fight Freaks Unite that there were mistakes made in the final weeks of his training camp and that he also thought a major reason for his poor performance was his layoff. He had had just one fight — a first-round KO of Robert Helenius — in two years when he faced Parker.
“A lot of things were going through my head but once I started training and put my emotions to the side and said if I become a gym rat again let’s see what the results are and do I still feel the same way I used to,” Wilder said shortly after arriving in Riyadh for the fight. “My hunger has come back.”
So, with the hunger having returned, Wilder will look make his presence known once again when he faces former WBO interim titlist Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs), 41, a Chinese southpaw fighting out of Bloomfield, New Jersey, whose straight left hand is a dangerous punch like Wilder’s right.
They will meet in the 12-round main event of the “5 vs. 5” card pitting fighters promoted by Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn against those on the roster of Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions on Saturday (DAZN PPV, 2 p.m. ET, $69.99) at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
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