Deontay Wilder faces Zhilei Zhang on Saturday night in Riyadh, and the loser faces a tough decision.
At 38 and 41 respectively, the hard-hitting pair can’t afford many more losses, particularly punishing ones. With this generation of heavyweights getting ready to clear the way for the next set over the coming years, many see this bout as last chance saloon for both men.
Wilder enters the ring off the back of an underwhelming performance against Joseph Parker. In the aftermath he was branded gun-shy and accused of losing his ferocity. It’s something, he told Seconds Out, he agrees with.
“The savagery of The Bronze Bomber is back. I was at too much peace, and war and peace don’t mix. The only time war and peace mix is when the war is over and victory has been claimed.”
As for the consequences of the fight, the former WBC Heavyweight World Champion did not mince his words, admitting that retirement is a very real option if he loses.
“I don’t know. I’ve had a successful career, and this is a do or die moment for me. I don’t think the heavyweight division is exciting without Deontay Wilder in it, but come Saturday night we will see. Will I prevail? Will I succeed? Who knows…
But Saturday night we’re gonna see. This could be the end of the career. This could be the final goodbye, the farewell of Deontay Wilder if I lose. If I win, I go on to bigger or better things.”
Wilder and Zhang top the Matchroom vs Queensberry 5 vs 5 card on DAZN this coming Saturday, also featuring Filip Hrgovic vs Daniel Dubois, a middleweight bout between Hamzah Sheeraz and Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, Raymond Ford against Nick Ball for Ford’s WBA featherweight title and Willy Hutchinson taking on Craig Richards in the light heavyweight ranks.
