Philippines, 12 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Wilder vs. Zhang: Winner Moves On, Loser Goes Home


PhilBoxing.com





This Saturday’s DAZN PPV main event between Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang is truly a winner moves on, loser goes home scenario. Both fighters are clearly on a downslide in their respected careers. Both fighters recently took a loss to Joseph Parker. Zhang did show more spunk scoring two knockdowns. This pair of boxers will have us on the edge of our seats wondering when the night ending punch will land. That said the styles may also produce a very slow fight while we wait for the spark.

Wilder in his last outing back in December admitted he couldn’t pull the trigger when the openings were presented. The question remains will he ever be able to pull the trigger on the contender level. Now of course we must add context to what occurred in the ring. No doubt about it Wilder did not have his timing and looked sluggish missing badly with his punches. The ‘Bronze Bomber’ had fought less than one round in a span of more than two years. Another troubling item is Wilder saying he will retire if he lost which gives off one foot in, one foot out vibes.

Regardless boxing has a way of exposing the truth inside the ropes so if too much rust was the main reason we should get a sharper Wilder. One thing that is undeniable, Deontay took a lot of punishment in those Tyson Fury fights. His punch resistance like Fury’s seems to be in decline. They say the last thing to go is a boxer’s power and there are plenty of examples throughout the history of the sport. Wilder didn’t take a ton of damage versus Parker and reportedly went in to the gym working on getting his timing back.

Last year Zhilei Zhang stopped Joe Joyce not once but twice and was on top of the world. Many saw him as a darkhorse to make even more noise in the division. Zhang refused to do enough follow up attack when he had Joseph Parker on the canvas in rounds 3 and 8. Probably because he didn’t want to gas out and figured he would just catch Parker with more damaging shots. As we know Zhang is very dangerous in the first part of the bout but as the rounds go on he becomes less and less of a threat to knock out his opponent.

This fight will come down to who is the more washed combatant. If Wilder can stay upright for 6 or 7 rounds his chances vastly improve to win this fight. Of course with the power Wilder posses in his right hand he could end the fight at anytime. So if it’s true that the long time out of the ring was the main reason for the poor performance against Parker this boxing podcaster would favor Wilder by KO. The reality is Deontay can have that power but he needs to be able to deliver it accurately.

From a technical aspect Zhang has the advantage. Because Zhang at least show way more life versus Parker it’s difficult not to side with him to defeat Wilder on Saturday. As far as a betting angle there is plus numbers available whether were talking stoppages or going the distance. If this fight happened with both men in their prime this boxing junkie would pick Wilder. +1000 for Wilder by decision is still worth a flyer. Hopefully we get an entertaining scrap filled with ebbs and flows.

My Official Prediction is Zhilei Zhang by Decision. (Possible late TKO)

Side Note: Can’t wait for Raymond Ford vs. Nick Bell will come down to how Ford’s body handles the weight. Hrgovic vs. Dubois, Sheeraz vs. Williams, and Hutchinson vs. Richards along with Dmitry Bivol vs. Malik Zinad fill out the rest of the PPV card. My Picks: Ford MD, Hrgovic UD, Sheeraz KO, and Hutchinson UD.

Written by Chris Carlson Host/Producer of The Rope A Dope Radio Podcast Available at www.blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadio Follow on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Chris Carlson.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Taylor vs. Serrano Trilogy: Can Amanda Get The Nod?
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • BERLANGA-SHEERAZ, STEVENSON-CEPEDA, MORELL-KHATAEV MAKE WEIGHT IN NEW YORK
    By Dong Secuya, , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • Johnny Spell Takes on Chancellor Batttenberg on Saturday, July 19th at the Hollywood Casino at the Meadows in Washington, PA
    , Sat, 12 Jul 2025
  • JV Tuazon, Ador Torres, Lemuel De Barbo, Jomar Fajardo Make Weight for Brico Santig's Highland Show in Thailand
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Philippine Under-12 Girls Team Shines Bright, Clinches Multiple Medals at 23rd ASEAN+ Age Group Chess Championships in Penang
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Kenneth “Llover Boy” Takes on “El Nica” Concepcion Aug 17 on Gerry Peñalosa’s Show @ the Winford Resort and Casino Manila (Analysis)
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated junior middleweight prospect Anthony Velazquez won’t be Boxing’s best kept secret in 2026
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Undefeated Gabriela Tellez Returns July 18 at “Night of Champions” Live on DAZN
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Dushanbe hosts stacked fight card with Bakhodur Usmonov and Christopher Mouafo headlining IBA.Pro 8
    , Fri, 11 Jul 2025
  • Shakur vs Zepeda & Morrell vs Khataev Fight Analysis
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Peñalosa To Test "Lover Boy" Llover Versus Accomplished Panamanian Veteran Concepcion
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Begins Brandenburg Cup Prep Camp
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Dream Fight: “Bam” Rodriguez vs “Puma” Martinez on the Horizon
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Perez vs Vivas Headlines All Star Boxing's Prueba de Fuego Card on July 25
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin Promotions & Ringside Ticket Inc. Present ‘Lopez Vs. Vargas’ Welterweight Battle
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • Vegas Fight Experience Where Authentic Sparring Meets Cinematic Vegas Energy
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • 4 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Erik Morales Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • SALITA PROMOTIONS SIGNS FORMER WORLD CHAMPION TONY HARRISON
    , Thu, 10 Jul 2025
  • FIGHT EMPIRE! TUAZON, ADOR, DE BARBO, JOMAR, AND MORE ARE READY FOR ACTION IN BRICO SANTIG'S EXCITING SHOW JULY 12 IN THAILAND
    By Carlos Costa, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Shakur Stevenson and David Morrell Face "Crossroad Fights" This Saturday in Queens
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Christy Martin’s “Mayhem in Music City 2” to Feature Undefeated Vic Hernandez Facing Jayvon Garnett for NABA & Jr. NABF Featherweight Championships
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • James Perkins & Anthony Andreozzi Headlines “Oceanside Prize Fights”
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • GORST PURSUES GOLDEN GLORY IN JEDDAH, DEFENDING WORLD POOL CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE IN SAUDI ARABIA, 21–26 JULY
    , Wed, 09 Jul 2025
  • Hovhannisyan and Barrientes Set for High-Stakes Showdowns July 18 on DAZN
    , Tue, 08 Jul 2025
  • UNBEATEN PROSPECT KENNETH LLOVER TO FACE FORMER TWO-DIVISION CHAMPION LUIS CONCEPCION IN MANILA
    , Mon, 07 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.