Deontay Wilder Back in Gym; Displays Knockout Power for June Showdown Against Zhilei Zhang

Deontay Wilder is preparing hard for his next big fight in the ring. In fresh videos, the heavyweight was seen further sharpening his legendary knockout skills, something that his recent fights have been missing.

According to reports, the fighter is slated to fight Chinese heavyweight, Zhilei Zhang, on June 1. The potential Riyadh fight comes at a time when both Wilder and ‘Big Bang’ are looking to revamp their boxing careers that have been etched in a slump after both lost their last bouts to Joseph Parker. While final confirmation of the fight is awaited, Wilder gave a peak into his training for his impending return.

Video footage on Fight Hub TV’s YouTube Shorts featured the 38-year-old fighter undertaking a strenuous session in the gym. Wilder showed off a physique that seemed to be in its best shape. He was seen taking a well-defined knockout jab at his trainer Malik Scott who was holding the mitts. The video showcased his unwavering determination to refine his knockout power. Burning with focus, he unleashed a relentless barrage of punching combinations against the pads.

The hard-hitting Alabama native was notorious for his knockout prowess. In his illustrious 43 wins, the Bronze Bomber has won 42 of them through knockouts. The feat has brought his knockout ratio to a sterling 97.67%. However, in his recent bouts, except for the one against Robert Helenius (2022), his notorious prowess was amiss. Especially against Tyson Fury (2020-21), where he lost the last two fights through knockouts.

The June 1 fight between the two heavyweights is one among the multiple high-profile fights that are reported to happen in the Kingdom of Saudi. Hence, if the fight does get finalized, they both will have to bring their best game into the ring, given the magnitude of the event. What are the other fights that are featured on the card?

Wilder part of the June 1st Mega Event in the making

It is being reported that alongside the Wilder-Zhang clash, Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol will headline the main card to crown the next undisputed champion of the light heavyweight division. Beterbiev, based in Quebec City, will bring his IBF, WBO, and WBC belts to unify them with Bivol’s WBA crown.

Additionally, other reports have suggested that on the same day, in Riyadh, Filip Hrgovic will fight Daniel Dubois in a heavyweight clash. The undefeated Croatian fighter is next in line for the IBF title that Oleksandr Usyk currently holds. 

Interestingly, the battle between Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions is also slated to happen on the same day in Riyadh. The one-of-its-kind tournament will see 5 fighters from Hearn’s stable face off against 5 of Warren’s fighters. While it is still not clear if all of these fights are part of the same event, it is raking up some major heat and anticipation.

Which among these potential fights are you looking forward to? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

Also Read: Tony Bellew Praises HE Turki Alalshikh for Potential Matchup Between Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang