Zhilei Zhang 68.2 pounds much heavier than Deontay Wilder at weigh-in
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Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing InsiderMay 31, 2024, 05:25 PM ET
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- Mike Coppinger has actually covered boxing because 2010 with functions at USA Today, Ring Magazine and The Athletic before he signed up with ESPN in 2021. You can follow him on Twitter: @MikeCoppinger
Zhilei Zhang exceeded previous heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder by 68.2 pounds Friday ahead of their battle Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that will heading the Frank Warren-Eddie Hearn 5 vs. 5 occasion.
China’s Zhang weighed 282.8 pounds while Alabama’s Wilder was 214.6 pounds.
Both heavyweights are reeling from upset choice losses to Joseph Parker in Riyadh. Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) was routed by Parker in December; Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) floored Parker two times in March however was still beat.
Now, both fighters remain in desperate requirement of a success to stay pertinent in the sport’s glamour department. Zhang, 41, is ESPN’s No. 6 heavyweight; Wilder, 38, is No. 7.
Regardless of the weight downside, Wilder will hold a 1-inch height benefit at 6-foot-7. Wilder weighed 1 pound more than he did versus Parker however was available in far lighter than his profession heaviest of 238 in the trilogy bout with Tyson Fury.
That loss to Fury was called ESPN’s 2021 Fight of the Year and KO of the Year. Wilder will represent Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing as group captain and for that reason will make double points in triumph. One point will be granted for a choice win and 2 points for a KO/TKO win. Wilder stands to make 4 points for his group if he can include Zhang to his list of 42 knockouts.
The winning promoter will make $3 million.
Dmitry Bivol, ESPN’s No. 5 pound-for-pound fighter, weighed 175 pounds for his WBA light heavyweight title defense Saturday versus Malik Zinad, who was 174.2 pounds. That battle isn’t part of the 5 vs. 5, however the following are:
Heavyweight bout
Filip Hrgovic 247.4, Daniel Dubois 245.8
WBA featherweight title battle
Ray Ford 125.4, Nick Ball 125.8
Middleweight bout
Hamzah Sheeran 159.6, Austin Williams 159.4
Light heavyweight bout
Craig Richards 174.2, Willy Hutchinson 174
