Zhang Knocks Wilder Spark Out; Everything You Need To Know In The 5 vs. 5 Tournament
Zhilei Zhang knocked out Deontay Wilder in round five during a ruthless display of heavyweight boxing.
Both men had their careers on the line following their losses to Joseph Parker. With both men possessing knockout power, the fight did not disappoint. The opening round was cagey, with both boxers feeling each other out.
Wilder kept the distance with his jab while Zhang stalked his opponent to close the gap. The fight grew into life in the second. Zhang pinned Wilder on the ropes, letting fly numerous combinations. Zhang connected with an uppercut, left hook, and numerous right hands. Wilder got off the ropes, but it set up the narrative for the rest of the fight.
Zhang dominated the third, landing a crisp left hook. Wilder was in the corner, as Zhang landed a big right hand after Wilder fell short with his right. That mistake would cost Wilder. The Bronze Bomber threw his right in the fifth. Zhang slipped and countered with his right hand, rocking Wilder backwards.
The Chinese followed it up with another right to put Wilder on the floor. The Bronze Bomber beat the count, but the referee waived it off. The defeat means Wilder may contemplate retirement. The loss also meant all of Eddie Hearn’s fighters came up short against Frank Warren’s stable.
Co-Main Event
Daniel Dubois defeated Filip Hrgovic as the referee waived the fight off in round eight following a series of cuts.
The victory made Dubois the IBF Interim Heavyweight Champion, putting him in line to face Oleksandr Usyk for his Undisputed Title. If the IBF strips Usyk, Dubois will be the full champion. Hrgovic landed the first big blows with two right hands over the top, with Dubois staying in the pocket.
Hrgovic was the aggressor, landing his overhand right on more than one occasion. Dubois responded with his right hand, but the Croatian had more success. A right hand and hook connected in the second, with Dubois on the back foot.
Dubois finished the second round well, landing a left hand over the top, which caused blood to rush out near Hrgovic’s right eye. That changed the momentum of the fight. Dubois had Hrgovic on the ropes as he landed a left hook to the body. Hrgovic was slowing down in the third, with Dubois on top.
Dubois’ jab was landing more, as he connected with a one-two in the fourth. The Brit was stalking Hrgovic.
The Croatian needed a strong round. He came back in the fifth, connecting with numerous right hands. An uppercut also landed, as Hrgovic somehow stayed in the fight. But after the halfway stage, Dubois pulled away. He landed a big right hand, which rocked Hrgovic backwards in the seventh.
The Croatian showed massive heart, as the shot would have dropped most opponents. The damage, however, was done as the bleeding became worse. During the eighth, Dubois landed a left hook near the eye. The referee asked the ringside doctor to look at Hrgovic. The fight was then stopped, with Hrgovic having his first defeat.
Bivol Wins
Dmitry Bivol successfully defended his WBA Light Heavyweight Title by stopping Malik Zinad in round six.
Bivol was under pressure to perform, having seen the undisputed fight fall through. He was meant to fight Artur Beterbiev. However, Beterbiev withdrew after suffering from a knee injury. Zinad was undefeated entering into this fight, making it a potentially tough bout. But Bivol shut down those suggestions with a very strong start. Zinad started on the front foot with his jab. But Bivol allowed his opponent to fire, covering up, before firing with his left hook. The shot sent Zinad to the canvas. Zinad beat the count but it was a worrying start.
Bivol increased the tempo as he popped out his jab. The jab was now causing problems, resulting in blood pouring from Zinad’s nose. Bivol was breaking his opponent down, with Zinad’s team having a heated conversation at the end of the third round.
Zinad did show some resolve. He caught Bivol up top, forcing his head to move back in the fifth. But that success was short-lived. Bivol connected with another big left hook, followed by a flurry of punches. Bivol had Zinad on the ropes as the referee waived the fight off.
The win took Bivol’s record to 23-0, with Turki Alalshikh announcing the Beterbiev fight for October 12.
Full Results
Zhilei Zhang def. Deontay Wilder via a fifth-round TKO; Heavyweight
Dmitry Bivol (c) def. Malik Zinad via a sixth-round TKO; WBA Light Heavyweight Title
Nick Ball def. Raymond Ford (c) via a split decision: (115-113, 115-113, 113-115) – WBA Featherweight Title
Daniel Dubois def. Filip Hrgovic via an eighth-round TKO; Heavyweight
Hamzah Sheeraz def. Austin Williams via an 11th-round TKO; Middleweight
Willy Hutchinson def. Craig Richards via UD 12 (119-109, 117-111, 116-112); Light Heavyweights
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