Chinese powerhouse Zhilei Zhang scored an emphatic fifth-round TKO over Deontay Wilder and may have closed the lid on the former WBC heavyweight champ's career at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh on Saturday. The official time was 1:51.
Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) blasted home a heavy right-hand shot to the jaw of Wilder in the fifth that forced him to spin 180 degrees into a corner. Quick as a flash, another right landed flush and the American just melted to the canvas and lay flat on his back. Always brave, "The Bronze Bomber" found his feet, but the referee had no choice but to wave the fight off.
"I would like to thank the fans in China," Zhang told DAZN via a translator. "I successfully took his right hand away. I blocked a lot of punches, but, hell yeah, he punches hard, and I give him a lot of respect.
"I'm on the road to facing the champion."
WATCH: Queensberry vs. Matchroom: Zhang vs. Wilder 5v5 live on DAZN
Up until the end, it was a very disappointing fight. Wilder simply backed off and offered a simple little paw with the left hand. Zhang remained in hot pursuit and applied a lot of pressure on an opponent who struggled to pull the trigger. The writing was on the wall very early.
The ending saved the show, which included some excellent action from start to finish. CLICK HERE FOR FULL UPDATES, RESULTS, HIGHLIGHTS:
Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5v5 fight card
- Zhilei Zhang def. Deontay Wilder via TKO 5 (1:51); Heavyweights
- Dmitry Bivol (c) def. Malik Zinad via TKO 6 (2:06) for the WBA light heavyweight title
- Nick Ball def. Raymond Ford (c) via SD 12 (115-113, 115-113, 113-115) WBA featherweight title
- Daniel Dubois def. Filip Hrgovic via TKO 8 (0:57); Heavyweights
- Hamzah Sheeraz def. Austin Williams via TKO 11 (0:45); Middleweights
- Willy Hutchinson def. Craig Richards via UD 12 (119-109, 117-111, 116-112); Light Heavyweights
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Learn more >
