Zhang Vows To Retire Wilder – ‘I Will Be His Last Dance Partner’
Zhilei Zhang has promised to end Deontay Wilder’s career when they box on June 1.
The two boxers square off on June 1 on the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol card. Zhang is coming off a loss to Joseph Parker, which he suffered last month. Despite knocking down Parker twice in the fight, the Chinese lost most of the other rounds, leaving Parker to win a decision. Wilder also lost to Parker in his last fight.
It was a one-sided affair, with Wilder only winning one round on his way to a unanimous decision defeat. His right hand and jab had deserted him, ending hopes of an Anthony Joshua fight. A two-fight deal was in place to fight Joshua, only if Wilder had beaten Parker. With so much on the line, Zhang wanted to send Wilder into retirement.
Zhang On Wilder
“I will be his last dance partner. I don’t know if he will see the end of the dance, but I will make sure he enjoys it. Me and Deontay are both big punchers. When Chinese power vs. Alabama power, we’re going to bang the heck out of each other. Don’t blink, everything happens in one punch. I don’t think I lost my last fight, but three months, here I am again. Wilder is here to knock me out. I want to do the same thing to him. I’ll see him in the ring. I represent Queensberry now. Matchroom is history and I’m here to beat them,” Zhang stated
The same also applies to the Bronze Bomber. Wilder then shut down talks over retirement, recognising this was his last chase at big-time boxing. His trainer, Malik Scott, had hinted his boxer’s Ayushyacha usage had damaged his killer instinct. Wilder also suggested that the pre-fight travels for the Parker fight had impacted him.
Wilder Responds
That created the narrative that Wilder was looking to justify his poor performance with excuses. His losses to Fury were followed by claims that the Gypsy King had tampered with his gloves by putting an egg-shaped object in the gloves. Since the claims were not proven, Wilder’s credibility did suffer. This time, he is looking to leave it all in the ring.
“This fight I’m holding it as my last stand, my last chance, and that’s what I’m taking it as. I’m just ready to do what I’m known to do and be the Wilder I am. You know, I lost my love and my passion for this business, I lost my hunger for so many different reasons.
“But now I’m in an opportunity where I’m dealing with people that I love…and it’s amazing to be around people who appreciate what they see in front of them. I’m not playing around this time, I have nothing to lose. I’ve lost a lot of things in my life, even including some of the closest people in my life, so I don’t feel like I have nothing else to lose, but only to gain,” Wilder said
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