38-year-old Deontay Wilder faced a crushing defeat at the hands of 41-year-old Zhang Zhilei.
Wilder, who had previously lost to Joseph Parker in December, had declared that he would retire from boxing if he suffered another loss. Unfortunately for the ‘Bronze Bomber’ this bout might be his last.
The fight started cautiously, with both fighters feeling each other out in the early rounds. However, Zhang soon took control, pressing forward and forcing Wilder onto the back foot. Wilder’s corner urged him to be more aggressive, and he responded briefly in the fifth round. However, the Alabama fighter quickly found himself in trouble after absorbing a solid right hand from Zhang. Moments later, a devastating right hand from Zhang sent Wilder sprawling across the ring, using the ropes to help himself up.
The image of Wilder, who left the ring without a post-fight interview, struggling to regain his footing might be a poignant final memory for boxing fans of the once-dominant heavyweight champion.
Promoter Frank Warren, on the other hand, had much to celebrate. The victory marked a significant triumph in his longstanding rivalry with Eddie Hearn, a feud that dates back to the 1980s when Hearn’s father, Barry, began promoting boxing events. Throughout the fight, both Warren and Hearn were vocally supportive of their fighters, with Hearn often leaping from his seat and Warren pounding the canvas.
The animosity between Matchroom and Queensberry promotions was temporarily set aside last year when Saudi Arabian organizers facilitated a truce, encouraging the two promoters to collaborate. This new cooperative spirit led to more joint events, with Warren expressing optimism about the future of such collaborations.
“This is a formula for the future, and we want to continue doing this,” Warren stated, sharing a handshake with Hearn as he walked away with a £2.3 million ($3 million) bonus.
