The Deontay Wilder next fight news has arrived and the former WBC heavyweight king is set to make his highly anticipated return to the ring on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. Welcoming him back will be China’s greatest export to heavyweight boxing.
Related: How To Watch the Deontay Wilder Fight on DAZN and The Full Queensberry vs. Matchroom Card
Who will Deontay Wilder next fight be against?
It has been a tough last few years for the “Bronze Bomber.” After storming to the top of the heavyweight division, the 38-year-old has suffered losses in three of his last four, including a stunning December setback to Joseph Parker.
When he returns to action this weekend, not only will he be looking to get back in the win column but he will also face top 10 heavyweight Zhilei Zhang. The best big-man boxer to ever come out of China.
How to watch Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang on June 1
- Wilder vs. Zhang will headline a card inside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Arena
- The fight will air exclusively on DAZN for a cost of $69.99
- The event will begin at 2 PM ET
Also Read: UFC Tonight: Get fight card, betting odds and watch times for tonight’s UFC event
Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang preview
After dominating the sport, Deontay Wilder’s back is against the wall for the first time. His loss to Joseph Parker knocked him down a few relevancy pegs. A fourth loss in five fights could permanently damage his hopes for one more big money fight. If he wants another major matchup before he calls it a career, he must beat Zhang on June 1.
Father Time: Wilder’s losses are no coincidence. He is 38 years old with 46 fights under his belt. After a trio of wars against Tyson Fury, it is not unrealistic to feel the Alabama native’s best days are behind him. This fight will go a long way in proving he is still a top fighter in the world today.
This won’t go the distance: Wilder is well known for his absurd punching power. However, Zhang is a nasty slugger in his own right and has scored KOs in 21 of his 26 wins. Considering the artillery of both men, this bout seems built to end early, which is a big win for fight fans.
- Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang betting odds: Wilder (+120), Zhang (-150)
The bottom line: If Deontay Wilder fans want to see their favorite fighter in matchups against Anthony Joshua, Oleksandr Usyk, or even Francis Ngannou in the future, he needs to win this fight and avoid permanently damaging his brand.
Prediction: Wilder’s best days are behind him, but he is still a high-level and extremely dangerous fighter in the heavyweight division. He may never be a world champion again but he knows how important this fight is and will set up one last mega fight later this year. Prediction: Wilder by knockout, Round 9
What makes Deontay Wilder so popular?
Over a 15-year career, Wilder has built a reputation as one of the greatest boxers of his generation. And while he was not able to lay claim to being called the very best of his time in failing to defeat Tyson Fury, he will still go down as one of the most feared power punchers fight sports has ever seen.
- Deontay Wilder record: 43-3-1(42 knockouts)
- Deontay Wilder height: At 6-foot-7, Wilder is one of the tallest champions in boxing history
- Deontay Wilder weight: The native of Alabama often weighs well over 210 pounds when he arrives at venues on fight night
- Wilder won his first heavyweight belt (WBC) when he beat Bermane Stiverne by unanimous decision in 2015
- He has scored knockouts or referee stoppages in all but three of the 12 title fights he has taken part in
- Fury is the only fighter to ever defeat Wilder, and the Englishman and Stiverne are the only competitors to ever make it to the scorecards against the heavyweight star
- Wilder actually started his fighting career much later than normal and did not seriously get into the sport until he was 20 years old
- The lanky heavyweight won a bronze medal at the 2008 Summer Olympics
What is Deontay Wilder’s net worth?
The measure of a fighter often comes down to the money they’ve made throughout their career. Deontay Wilder’s net worth is believed to be $30 million as of 2023.
Deontay Wilder wife
“The Bronze Bomber” is one of the most famous fighters in the world and many are curious about who he’s married to. Well, the pugilist is not officially married but long-time girlfriend Telli Swift is his fiancee.