Deontay Wilder Knocked Out by Zhilei Zhang in Dramatic Fifth-Round TKO: round by round updates

The boxing world eagerly awaits the highly anticipated clash between Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang, which will be the culminating event of the 5v5 showdown at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. This main event is scheduled to commence around 6:00 PM Eastern Time and will be available for viewing on the DAZN pay-per-view platform. For those seeking a comprehensive overview of the undercard results, please visit our dedicated Wilder vs. Zhang results page.

Deontay Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight champion and one of the most feared power-punchers of his generation, boasts an impressive record of 43-3-1. Nicknamed “The Bronze Bomber,” he has amassed a staggering 42 knockouts in his professional career. However, recent years have presented challenges, with Wilder experiencing three losses in his last four fights dating back to 2020. This includes a knockout victory over Robert Helenius, sandwiched between two defeats to Tyson Fury and one to Joseph Parker. A loss in this upcoming encounter could potentially signal the end of the 38-year-old Alabama native’s boxing career.

Zhilei Zhang, on the other hand, stands as a testament to the heavyweight division’s ageless potential. This 41-year-old Chinese fighter, an Olympic silver medalist, claimed the WBO interim heavyweight title with back-to-back victories over Joe Joyce in 2023. However, he ultimately lost the title in a majority decision to Joseph Parker this past March. Zhang’s professional career has only one other blemish, a decision loss to Filip Hrgovic in 2022. Entering the fight, Zhang possesses a significant size advantage, boasting a weight of 68.2 pounds more than Wilder.

Deontay Wilder vs Zhilei Zhang Round by Round updates

Round 1: Zhang adopting a southpaw stance, while Wilder maintains his orthodox position. The opening moments are a tense waiting game, as both fighters cautiously circle and measure each other up. Zhang takes the initiative early, pushing Wilder back towards the corner. Both men are engaged in a tentative dance, coiled and ready to unleash their power punches.

Wilder throws a probing right hand, met by Zhang’s counter left to the body. Zhang’s size advantage is evident as he uses it to control the pace and dictate the early flow of the round. Both fighters are taking their time, waiting for the perfect opportunity to land that decisive blow. Zhang throws another left to the body as Wilder retreats, followed by a missed right from Wilder.

The early stages of the round are characterized by a lot of tentative movement and feeling-out jabs. Zhang swings a left hook, but Wilder ducks under and clinches, momentarily halting the action. A quick right from Wilder just misses its target, followed by another miss from Zhang. This cautious approach is perhaps unsurprising, given that both fighters are known for their devastating knockout power and are likely wary of exposing themselves to a potentially fight-ending blow. It’s interesting to note that statistically, these two fighters are ranked as the top two for throwing the least punches in boxing, and this conservative style is certainly on display in the opening round.

Round 2: begins with Wilder attempting to assert his presence in the center of the ring, rather than retreating to the corner as he did in the previous round. He throws a right hand, met by a counter left to the body from Zhang. Notably, neither fighter is utilizing jabs at this point.

Zhang takes advantage of his size and strength, pushing Wilder back towards the corner and landing a powerful uppercut. Wilder is forced to cover up momentarily, absorbing the blow. He fires back with a right hand, but Zhang remains close, engaging in a rough and tumble exchange. Wilder eventually pivots out, but Zhang quickly forces him back into another corner, unleashing a barrage of body shots.

Wilder appears hesitant and is not throwing punches with the same frequency as Zhang. He manages to land a right hand that forces Zhang to cover up, but it’s a rare occurrence. Zhang then lands a clean lead right hook as Wilder steps out, further asserting his dominance. The pattern continues as Zhang repeatedly corners Wilder, highlighting the effectiveness of his size and pressure. This lack of activity from Wilder is concerning, as his passivity could prove detrimental against a relentless opponent like Zhang.

Round 3: begins with Zhang effortlessly controlling the pace and movement of the fight. Wilder’s corner desperately urges him to take action, expressing their disapproval of his passive stance. Unfortunately, the first minute continues in the same vein, with Wilder remaining hesitant to throw punches. Zhang repeatedly corners him, landing blows while Wilder offers minimal resistance.

Finally, Wilder throws a right hand, but Zhang counters with a powerful right of his own, forcing Wilder to retreat further. The pattern continues, with Wilder unable to stay off the ropes and failing to assert himself offensively. This lack of activity and inability to gain control of the fight paints a bleak picture for Wilder’s chances. A missed uppercut from Zhang in the corner does little to alleviate the growing sense of despair.

Round 4: continues with Wilder’s cautious approach, relying on his left jab as he waits for a perfect opportunity to unleash his right hand. However, his punch output remains incredibly low, with only 9 punches landed through the first three rounds. In contrast, Zhang, while not setting the world on fire, has landed 27 punches.

Despite the low overall activity, Wilder appears to be settling in slightly better in this round. He’s maintaining a more central position and throwing a few more right hands. However, the majority of his activity still consists of lead-hand shoving, showcasing a lack of offensive initiative. A clumsy jab from Wilder is met with a left to the body from Zhang, who then ducks a left in return. It’s worth acknowledging that Wilder’s defense has been relatively solid, but it’s the only aspect of his performance that stands out.

Zhang’s offensive output has also slowed down significantly. He’s still backing Wilder up, but his punches are limited to single left hands, which Wilder is adept at dodging. The fight is starting to resemble a lackluster sparring session, devoid of any real intensity or threat. A rare exchange of right and left hands concludes the round, further highlighting the underwhelming nature of this encounter.

Round 5: begins with a sense of resignation, acknowledging that a decision victory for either fighter wouldn’t be particularly exciting. A call for more action from both fighters echoes the sentiment.

Suddenly, Wilder experiences a surge of energy! He unleashes a flurry of punches, catching Zhang off guard. Zhang reacts poorly, resorting to covering up until a clinch breaks the momentum. While not a significant exchange, the sheer effort displayed by Wilder momentarily surprises Zhang.

However, Zhang quickly regains control, landing a left hook and forcing Wilder back into his passive retreat. The round settles back into its previous pattern, with Wilder cornered and seemingly content to dodge punches.

Then, a dramatic turn of events! Wilder gets caught off guard by an unknown blow, sending him stumbling with his back turned. Zhang capitalizes on this vulnerability, unleashing a powerful right hook that levels Wilder. He struggles to beat the count, appearing visibly shaken. Although he manages to get up at the eight count, the referee intervenes, recognizing Wilder’s compromised state and calling a TKO victory for Zhang at 1:51 of the fifth round.