Zhilei Zhang vs Deontay Wilder reportedly in the works
ESPN has revealed that heavyweights Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42KO) and Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21KO) are in talks for a summer showdown.
Former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder was last in action on the Day of Reckoning card in December when he produced an uncharacteristically placid performance and was comfortably outpointed by Joseph Parker.
Zhang then also fell to the same fate at the hands of the in-form Kiwi, when Parker outpointed him too. However, it was a far more even affair, with the Chinese powerhouse able to drop Parker twice during the 12-round championship contest which saw the New Zealander walk away as the WBO Interim World champion.
The fight makes perfect sense with both boxers eager to get back into the win column, each suffering defeat to the same former foe.
The welcome news was announced on March 22: “Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang are in the process of finalising a deal for a June 1 fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, sources told ESPN. The heavyweight bout will take place on the undercard of the Artur Beterbiev-Dmitry Bivol undisputed title fight. Two monster punchers.”
The event falls a fortnight after the heavyweight division will crown their first undisputed champion in almost 25 years, when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk collide for all of the marbles on May 18.
June 1 is already an eagerly awaited date in the calendar as Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol are set to decide the light heavyweight undisputed championship, as well as promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren set to lay on a 5 vs 5 event, pitting Matchroom boxers against Queensberry fighters.
Official confirmation on the June 1 event in Saudi Arabia is expected in the coming weeks.