Zhilei Zhang took out Deontay Wilder. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
In a fight between two knockout artists, Zhilei Zhang found home first, defeating former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder via KO in the fifth round.
Neither fighter looked very impressive all things considered, but it was an especially bad night for Wilder, who again looked tentative as the commentators speculated if his career was nearing its end. Both fighters seemed very aware of each other’s power, but it was Zhang who was finding home.
Zhang clearly hurt Wilder in the second round, but couldn’t finish it off. The ending came in surprising fashion, when an errant right hook left Wilder spinning, leaving him open to a brutal blow to the face from his opponent.
And that was it.
Here’s how everything went down live in the Queensberry vs Matchroom 5v5:
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RESULT: Zhilei Zhang def. Deontay Wilder by KO at 1:51 of Round 5
I think Wilder could have continued but Zhang would have likely clipped him again, and even if he could have escaped the round, he doesn’t look right in there. His equilibrium is off, and he seems lost. He doesn’t need to be getting hit anymore.
Zhang KOs Wilder in Round 5 in a stunner! Wilder looked lost for most of the fight, then turned his back to Zhang before Zhang landed the huge right hand that floored the former champ.
Round 4: A tiny bit better from Wilder, but still not enough to win the round. Zhang staying busier, but that isn’t saying much. Slow-paced fight with not much action so far.
When a pure puncher starts to purely box, you’re in trouble, baby. You’re in trouble…
Wilder has never had good balance, but now it looks like his equilibrium is off, even when he hasn’t been caught with a punch. Zhang isn’t doing much to take advantage of this, tho. Not yet, anyway.
Round 3: Zhang is making Wilder very uncomfortable. He hasn’t found a home for his right hand and he’s getting pummeled by the much bigger Zhang.
Round 2: Zhang may have hurt Wilder and was unloading some shots in the corner that Wilder mostly avoided. Wilder doesn’t look at all like the Wilder of old. Zhang is backing him down and taking it to the former champ.
Round 1: A bit of a feeling out round between the two big men. Zhang’s 68-pound size advantage is noticeable, but he didn’t let his hands go much.
Up next: The heavyweight main event between Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder.
Result: Daniel Dubois stops Filip Hrgovic at 57 seconds of 8th round
The ref has the ring doctor look at Hrgovic’s cuts and the ref calls the bout!
Round 7: Nice round for Dubois. Landed some big shots and is starting to take control. Hrgovic looks gassed and it’s wild he is still standing. Saved by the bell perhaps
Round 6: More punches from both sides, but Dubois looks strong.
Did someone outlaw body punches and nobody told us?
Either Dubois has a chin of steel or Hrgovic doesn’t punch really hard.
Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang fight card, odds (Start time 2 p.m. ET, DAZN PPV)
Heavyweight: Zhilei Zhang def. Deontay Wilder by KO at 1:51 of Round 5
Heavyweight: Daniel Dubois def. Filip Hrgovic by TKO at 0:57 of Round 8
Light heavyweight: Dmitry Bivol def. Malik Zinad by TKO at 2:06 of Round 6
Middleweight: Hamzah Sheeraz def. Austin Williams by TKO at 0:45 of Round 11
Featherweight: Nick Ball def. Ray Ford by split decision (115-113, 113-115, 115-113)
