After suffering a monster setback against Joseph Parker in December, Deontay Wilder’s heavyweight career appears to be at a crossroads.
However, just four months on from that humbling defeat – just his third as a professional – it has been confirmed that Wilder has signed for a showdown with one of heavyweight boxing’s biggest names. The American will head up a star-studded undercard for Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol’s undisputed light-heavyweight title showdown.
Deontay Wilder faces biggest test yet as he confirms his next fight
Wilder was well ranked with the WBC and seemed destined for a shot at the heavyweight title down the line ahead of his bout with Parker. More importantly, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ was on the verge of finally taking on his long-term rival – Anthony Joshua, with Parker representing the only stumbling block to a February date.
Of course, as fans of boxing have become accustomed to, things did not go to plan. The New Zealander schooled Wilder for all 12 rounds, whitewashing the generational knockout artist and derailing plans of Joshua-Wilder while pushing aside his hopes of heavyweight title contention.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua kept up his side of the bargain and scored an impressive knockout win over Otto Wallin, leaving Wilder to blame for failures to make one of the heavyweight battles of the century.
Deontay Wilder vs Zhilei Zhang confirmed for Saudi Arabian showdown
Today it has been formally announced that Wilder will return to the ring on the ‘Matchroom vs. Queensberry’ Beterbiev-Bivol undercard, signing for Matchroom Boxing on a short-term deal for the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The man in the opposing corner is one not to be overlooked; Zhilei Zhang seeks to destroy the title hopes of Wilder, as he twice did to Joe Joyce during 2023. Like Wilder, Zhang was also the victim of a Joseph Parker upset in recent months, costing him the WBO interim title and therefore an eventual shot at the victor of Fury-Usyk.
At ages of 38 and 40 respectively, with both men coming off of losses, there is undeniably a sense that it is a case of ‘do or die’ for both Wilder and Zhang, the winner re-emerging as a heavyweight contender and the loser being left further away from the world title than ever in what is sure to be the most talked about fight on the undercard.
Full undercard confirmed for Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol on June 1
As if the prospect of both Beterbiev-Bivol and Wilder-Zhang is not enough to satisfy the endless appetites of fans around the globe, the remainder of the undercard is just as salivating, with jeopardy on the line for both Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren as well as the fighters involved.
Daniel Dubois will challenge Filip Hrgovic in a bout that is expected to be for the soon-to-be vacant IBF heavyweight title, after the undisputed crown becomes fragmented in the aftermath of Fury-Usyk, whereas Nick Ball bids for Raymond Ford’s WBA featherweight title, just three months after his controversial draw against Luis Alberto Lopez for the WBC belt.
Additionally, highly-rated British middleweight Hamzah Sheeraz makes the step up to world level after a stunning first-round stoppage against former world champion, Liam Williams, early this year as he takes on his namesake. Sheeraz will be pitted up against undefeated American southpaw, Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, who is ranked as high as third with the WBA – the winner almost guaranteed to challenge for a world title in their next fight.
Finally, Scottish light-heavyweight Willy Hutchinson will take on England’s Craig Richards in an all-British affair as both look to advance in what is a hotly-contested domestic division.