Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang Potential Fight Purse: How Much Money Could Saudi Be Offering ‘Bronze Bomber’ for Possible Retirement Match of His Boxing Career?

The Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia is the next big thing in boxing! Both fighters are coming off a loss against Joseph Parker and are out to prove they belong among the elites in the heavyweight division. Scheduled for June 1 at the Kingdom Arena, the fight will headline the Matchroom vs. Queensberry 5 vs. 5 mega event. However, the question is how much are they getting paid for the big event.

Wilder, once looked at as the best in the division, hasn’t been having the best time since his trilogy loss to former rival Tyson Fury. On the other hand, Zhilei Zhang achieved prominence recently after defeating Joe Joyce twice last year. While there are no belts on the line in the fight, Wilder’s potential retirement hangs in the balance depending upon the fight’s outcome on the weekend night. 

Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang: Big money for a big fight

Unfortunately, no official numbers for the fight purse have been revealed to the public as of the time of writing this article. But fret not! Those numbers can be easily predicted by looking at their past fights, or more importantly, the chunk of cash they made through those fights. Let’s begin with the Chinese boxer, who represented his country in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and swiped a silver medal before being stopped by Roberto Cammarelle.

During his clash against ‘Lupesoliai La’auliolemalietoa’, the ‘Big Bang’ earned somewhere around $2-3 million. So, it wouldn’t be too far-fetched to suggest Zhang will make seven figures in the fight against Wilder, especially considering Wilder’s failure against Parker. It’s also worth mentioning that the actual number can be much larger. 

On the other hand, Wilder is no stranger to big-money fights! His legendary battle against Tyson Fury stands as proof, where he pocketed $4 million from the $10 million purse money for the fight. Considering that ‘The Bronze Bomber’ stands to make somewhere in the ballpark of $4-$5 million in the fight against Zhang. 

However, it’s important to note that the figures mentioned are simply the guaranteed purse amounts. Both boxers stand to earn additional income from a portion of the pay-per-view sales, lucrative sponsorship deals, and gate revenue. As a result, determining the exact total earnings for Zhang and Wilder prior to the fight is challenging. Only after the event, when the actual numbers are disclosed, will fans gain a comprehensive understanding of their financial gains. Setting aside the financial aspect, there’s compelling speculation that this bout might mark Wilder’s final appearance in the ring, adding an extra layer of significance to the event.

Does a loss mean Wilder will retire? 

Wilder is 38, sprinting towards the magical 40, so one has to imagine there’s not much time left in Wilder’s boxing career. He will have to achieve everything he wants potentially in the next two years. Regardless, during an interview with DAZN Boxing a couple of days ago, the hardest puncher in boxing dropped clear hints at his retirement in case the fight doesn’t go his way. 

Referring to his performance during the Parker fight, Wilder said, “It’s going to be a different fight this time around, and if it’s not a different fight, then retirement is definitely highly considered”. However, this wasn’t even the first time Wilder has contemplated hanging up his gloves! Right after failing to beat Parker last year, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ did the unthinkable.

Ashamed of collecting yet another loss, Wilder announced his retirement from the sport then and there in the ring. However, fate had different ideas, as the backlash from the public started flooding in. So, the Tuscaloosa resident was forced to change his mind, promising to come back to the ring one more time. While no one wants a great heavyweight like Wilder to leave the sport, fans will have to face reality as Wilder transitions into his retirement years soon. 

Having said that, Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang stand to make a huge chunk of change in their upcoming fight on June 1. However, only the results may determine whether Wilder will grace the canvas again in case the fight goes in an unwanted direction. How much do you think Wilder and Zhang make after June 1?