Zhilei Zhang Loss Might Be a Blessing In Disguise for Deontay Wilder, Here’s Why

From juggling two jobs so that he can pay for his elder daughter’s bill to being the WBC world heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder has lived a remarkable life as a tenacious fighter. He filled the void that Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield left, as the United States longed for an enforcer in the heavyweight division for close to a decade. However, the ever-changing boxing landscape has dented the Bronze Bomber’s reputation a bit lately, especially after his devastating recent loss to Zhilei Zhang. Does the loss effectively curtail his career, or has it opened new doors for him?

It seems the latter is the case. The Alabama native who picked up boxing gloves at 18 and then bagged an Olympic medal, soon carved out a niche as a destroyer. During his prime, he was exciting and racked up his first 32 wins through KOs until he dethroned Bermane Stiverne for the WBC strap in 2015. That remains, til the day, his lone decision win. The highlight of his career would be his 10 consecutive title defenses followed by a grueling trilogy with Tyson Fury. The fans will remember Deontay Wilder smashing his opponents with a great right hand at the peak of his career. But all that seems a foggy memory of the past, as Wilder appeared in danger against the ‘Big Bang’ on June 1. While he has earned his place in history as one of the hardest hitters of the modern era, his boxing tale might still have one last chapter left.

Walking on the Floyd Mayweather way

Despite Wilder specifying his intention to call it quits in case of a loss ahead of his Zhang fight, we may see him pushing for one last hurrah. He can take a leaf out of Zhang’s late resurgence, but if he decides to stick to his decision, he can chart his own course, akin to Floyd Mayweather. ‘Money’ took the route of exhibition boxing and, since retiring in 2018, has turned up seven times. And his exhibition fights have helped him collect a huge paychecks.

Mayweather, at 50-0, showcased his skills in the ring in a low-stake bout against the likes of Tenshin Nasukawa, Logan Paul, Deji, Aaron Chalmers, and most recently, John Gotti III. Notably, Mayweather vs. Paul had brought in a business of $50 million and paved the way for boxers to still do what they love with less risk and high rewards. It will serve well for Wilder, who is 38, and his body can’t endure the vagaries of professional fights for long.

Should Deontay Wilder prioritize his health over a comeback?

These are Wilder’s twilight years when his chin’s ability to absorb hits has degraded to the extent that he could be met with a horrible injury. The former WBC champion has taken the toll, taking punishments over three fights with ‘The Gypsy King’. Add inactivity to the mix, and you have a recipe for disaster. The same was on display against Zhang.

Moreover, the heavyweight boxer has failed to add mass to his frame. He stood just over 210 pounds, whereas the Chinese fighter tipped the scales closer to 300. Can he continue to pit himself against the top fighters with such a weight disparity? Despite the added safety measures, boxing remains a dangerous sport.

It’s the perfect time for the 43-4-1 record holder to switch to exhibition fights with his reputation as a fearsome and devastating fighter intact and deserving of respect. He still finds himself on favorable terms with HE Turki Alalshikh and can jump into the rage of crossover boxing. Mike Tyson is the latest entrant, as he has agreed to fight Jake Paul. Wilder can be next. And he already has a lucrative suitor.

Making the best of Saudi Arabia’s interest and the crossover opportunity

Fury opened the floodgates when he went blow-to-blow with Francis Ngannou last October. The exciting event left him $50 million wealthy and helped shed apprehensions about crossover boxing. Anthony Joshua also followed suit this year and dismantled ‘The Predator’ in one of the biggest fights of the year, beefing up his bank account by close to $50 million. Former world champion Amir Khan is also eyeing similar returns against British YouTube star KSI. Interestingly, Wilder was in talks with the former UFC champion first, but things didn’t go as planned. However, Ngannou still favors a match with Wilder.

What’s more, as rumored previously, it could be a two-fight deal. The 2008 Olympic medalist could also entertain the idea of a mixed-rules fight. PFL boss Donn Davis has already admitted that there is interest and they are mulling over the prospect of hosting the hybrid rules fight in 2024.

With Ngannou as one of the biggest stars in the MMA world, and PFL being the second-biggest MMA promotion in the world, this fight would attract plenty of viewers. No one would miss the chance to tune in and witness the two of the hardest hitters of their respective sports going for a kill. The fight has blockbuster written all over it and it’s a realistic dream now. It would have been a distant possibility if Wilder had edged past Zhang. But it seems it might all work out for him if he chooses to go that way.

What do you make of the recent loss of Deontay Wilder against Zhilei Zhang? Where do you think his career is heading now? Let us know in the comments below.