Zhang Zhilei VS Wilder
A few days ago, the battle between Chinese heavyweight boxer Zhang Zhilei and former world boxing champion Wilder was officially announced, and the two will face each other in Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, in the early morning of June 2, Beijing time.
This means that Zhang Zhilei, who just finished 12 rounds with former world champion Parker on March 8, will be in the ring again in less than three months, and this bout is unusual for both sides, and according to the analysis of some overseas media, the loser is likely to fade away.
As the current banner figure of Chinese professional boxing, Zhang Zhilei's dynamics tug at the heartstrings of all Chinese boxing fans. Although it was a pity to lose the match with Parker and Zhang Zhilei lost the WBO transitional boxing championship belt, at about 2 o'clock in the morning on April 16, many netizens still followed the live broadcast of Zhang Zhilei's latest match through social platforms.
Zhang Zhilei and Wild were at the official announcement site.
Zhang Zhilei VS Wilder, a duel that no one can afford to lose
In fact, as early as the end of last month, ESPN broke the news in advance that Zhang Zhilei would play against Wild on June 1, local time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This bout may not be able to match the light heavyweight world title unification bout in the finale of the day (two undefeated champions Bivol and Beterbiev face each other), but for the current world boxing scene, it is still a collision between Mars and Earth.
Wilder announced his return with a rant at the press conference: "This is my last chance, I'm looking forward to this fight, I respect Zhang Zhilei, but this moment belongs to me, I have to find myself, I have nothing to fear." "Wilder, who was crushed by Parker for 12 rounds last year, and who held the boxing title for five years, is considered to be no longer as brave as he once was. It has been revealed by the media that Wilder is close to retirement, and this match with Zhang Zhilei will basically determine Wilder's future, and he also bluntly said that he will consider leaving the ring once he loses.
For Zhang, facing similar pressures, a back-to-back defeat to Parker and Wilder would wipe out the market value and prestige earned by last year's two wins over Joyce. At the age of 41, it is extremely difficult for Zhang Zhilei to regain the favor of the promoter.
In a way, it's a game that neither man can afford to lose. Parker's underdogs are defeated, Zhang Zhilei and Wilder need to decide a winner, and the behind-the-scenes capital and promotion companies are also making a choice, who has the ability to return to the ranks of the world champion challengers? Who will be abandoned by the fans and the market?
Zhang Zhilei's straight punch in the back hand is extremely threatening.
KO fights, full of eyeball effects
It sounds like Zhang Zhilei is at the most important fork in the road in his career, but it's both a test and an opportunity.
In terms of coffee position and playing style, Wilder, even if he is on a downhill slope, is still the biggest and most dangerous opponent Zhang Zhilei has encountered so far. With a career 43-3-1 record, a terrifying 42 knockouts, four unwon fights, and three of them all thanks to Tyson Fury last year, Wilder still has the ability to kill fights as long as the punches are still there.
Similar to Wilder, Zhang Zhilei has 21 knockouts in 26 wins, and such a high knockout rate can be seen from the men's nicknames "Big Bang" and "Bronze Bomber".
In the promotion company's publicity, this is a "knockout fight" in today's heavyweight boxing world, and such a match will whet the appetite of fans at any time, and the attention will even surpass the previous two fights between Zhang Zhilei, Wilder and Parker.
In light of this, if Zhang Zhilei can destroy Wilder, the eyeball effect is bound to be full, and in the professional boxing world that advocates knockouts, his heavy-handed label will be further strengthened, and the market value will also reach new heights.
Previously, many Chinese fans were anxious that Zhang Zhilei did not finalize the rematch with Parker in the first place, but in the professional boxing world that pursues exposure and commercialization, as the so-called high risk and high reward, Wild is definitely a more cost-effective opponent than Parker.
In fact, before the battle with Parker, Wild was the opponent pursued by Zhang Zhilei, and the two sides once entered the negotiation process. Now, this long-overdue battle is finally a certainty.
Wilder's knockout rate is extremely high.
Against Wilder, Zhang Zhilei had a chance
At present, some Chinese fans believe that Zhang Zhilei has little chance of winning through the fight with Parker, and Wilder's speed, especially heavy punches, will bring great damage to Zhang, but on closer inspection, some characteristics of Wilder can be used by Zhang Zhilei.
On the one hand, Wilder's technique is relatively rough, and whether he can adjust his tactics freely in the game like Parker will be marked with a question mark, and more loopholes will be exposed in the game; on the other hand, Wilder's style is likely to be the most suitable for Zhang Zhilei, Zhang Zhilei's physical fitness and movement are shortcomings, but when encountering the offensive Wilder, he does not need to chase this opponent all over the court, and it will become easier to play defensive counterattacks and attacks in Wilder's offense...... When Wild unleashed his frightening hook, Zhang's famously hit straight back hand was a lethal hit, a sight likely to have materialized in the early hours of June 2, Beijing time.
"Wilder is a heavy gunner and I have to be very careful. But I'm also a technical heavy gunner, and if I see an opportunity, I won't be relentless. Zhang Zhilei's statement also illustrates the problem.
In addition, Zhang Zhilei flew to the United Kingdom for training after a short break after playing against Parker, rather than his home country of the United States. There are many indications that Zhang Zhilei and the team got the news of the game earlier than the official announcement, which means that his preparation will not be as hasty as the outside world speculated.
In any case, Zhang Zhilei didn't lose out on signing this fight quickly after losing the interim boxing belt, and all he needs now is to seize this God-given opportunity.