The heavyweight division of boxing is arguably the most exciting in the sport currently. However, there will be a void as former WBC champion Deontay Wilder moves closer to taking the gloves off following his next matchup with Zhilei Zhang. However, Wilder only vowed to do it if he lost his upcoming fight. Before making a return to the sport in 2022 versus Robert Helenius, Wilder had been out of the game for nearly two years. After that, he faced up against Joseph Parker and lost in a heartbreaking fashion.

While talking about his upsetting loss, Wilder stated, “One of the things that went wrong was the inactivity. I was out for two years.” The 38-year-old fighter was the clear favorite going into the fight with Parker, but he was ineffective. It would be hard for him to recover mentally and physically at his age if he lost again. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has intentions to reclaim his heavyweight title crown. But fans might not get to witness this thrilling showdown if he loses.

Deontay Wilder Gives His Ultimatum 

The native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama was recently in conversation with SecondsOut, discussing his plans for the near future. He considers his upcoming bout as a “do or die moment” and stated, “This could be the end of the career, this could be the final farewell of Deontay Wilder. If I lose.” 

He continued by saying that if he prevails, he will go on to do bigger and better things. There is going to be a thrilling contest on June 1st at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The tournament between Frank Warren’s Queensberry and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Promotions is set for a best-of-five format scheduled for Saturday.  

Wilder was last seen inside the squared circle against Joseph Parker and experienced an upsetting loss. Interestingly, even Zhang’s last fight was against Parker, and he suffered a defeat as well. The two titans have had incredible careers. But their next encounter will determine their respective legacies, as they are both on the verge of hanging off their gloves. 

The Pursuit for Legacy

The 38-year-old suffered a loss against Tyson Fury in their third encounter in 2021. On the verge of retirement after back-to-back losses against Tyson Fury, he decided to pull himself up and make a comeback. He defeated Robert Helenius in classic Deontay Wilder fashion via a knockout. Now he vows to retire if he loses, but if he doesn’t, the American boxer is eyeing to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. 

While having a conversation with Queensberry, Wilder stated, “I want to be undisputed champion. That’s my goal right now. It’s about attaining the titles again, and then I can sail off into the sunset.” 

One of the hardest-hitting boxers currently competing, Wilder is known for his ability to recover and turn the tide of a match. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ has two intriguing futures if he defeats Zhang. He will first face Anthony Joshua if the two agree to a fight. His ultimate objective is to fight the victor of Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk II. Only time will tell how it plays out for the boxer.