Zhilei " Big Bang " Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) demolished former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) in round five on Saturday night at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh.
Zhang's win gave Queensberry’s Team a clean sweep over Matchroom in the 5 vs. 5 event.
There was less action in the early rounds from both fighters, with the two aging heavyweights, extending their lead hands trying to measure distance, looking fearful of letting their hands go.
The 41 year old Zhang, trapped Wilder against the ropes in the second round and unloaded with some telling punches with both hands. Wilder took the punches well, but he wore a fragile and timid look which called for concern as he didn’t to throw anything back while Zhang was working him over.
The bubble around Wilder was burst: the once menacing aura around him which struck terror and trepidation in his opponents had evaporated - probably after the last Fury fight, more but moreso after the Parker annihilation.
This was not vintage Wilder we were seeing or even the version that had been stopped twice by the Gypsy King Tyson Fury.
Wilder continued to avoid throwing punches in rounds three through four. The crowd looked restless at the lack of meaningful action from both fighters after the fourth. Zhang was trying, at least, but he was so slow and had a hard time getting to Wilder to line him up for a big shot.
Trainer, Malik Scott, told Wilder in between rounds not to be a punching bag for Zhang, and that may have been his downfall.
Wilder came alive in five, landing several straight right hands to the head of Zhang, getting the crowd pumped up. Where things went to pieces for Wilder was when he threw a pawing, half-hearted jab followed by a right hand.
Zhang saw it coming and fired off a right hook to Wilder’s chin, causing him to spin in amateurish fashion, staggering off balance and completely defenseless.
Zhang made the most of it; he capitalised on the blunder, pounced on the stricken Wilder, and hit him with a clean right hand that sent him down on his back with his head bouncing on the mat.
Wilder, obviously dazed, somehow made it back to his feet, but the referee had no option than to stop the fight at 1:51 of the fifth round.
The Alabama native had declared pre-fight, that he'd hang up his gloves should he lose to Zhang.
It's unlikely he'll stick to that vow though.
Zhang's stunning victory wrapped up a solid night for Queensberry, as all their fighters: Nick Ball, Daniel Dubois, Dmitry Bivol and Hamza Sheeraz all defeated their opponents from the Matchroom camp.
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