Connect with us

UK Boxing

Deontay Wilder vows to knock out Zhilei Zhang Muhammad Ali style

Published

on

Wilder and Zhang face-to-face at Thursday

Deontay Wilder looks at Zhilei Zhang's Muhammad Ali-style knockout on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.  Photo: Wilder (Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Deontay Wilder looks at Zhilei Zhang’s Muhammad Ali-style knockout on Saturday in Saudi Arabia. Photo: Wilder (Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

Deontay Wilder announced a knockout comparable to Muhammad Ali’s in Saturday’s fight with Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia.

Wilder fights for the 48th time as a professional when he meets Zhang at the top of the Queensberry vs Matchroom event in Riyad, live on TNT Sports Box Office and DAZN on pay-per-view.

“Brown bomber”, i.e. the so-called Eddie HearnThe Matchroom captain was in a bad mood after the unanimous decision defeat by Joseph Parker in December.

But the 38-year-old, who has 42 knockouts from 43 wins, vowed to deliver a performance close to his best and even said he would stand over his opponent in a similar way to how Ali did when he knocked out Sonny Liston in a rematch in 1965 .

“I can’t wait to prove that I still have what it takes,” Wilder said during Thursday’s news conference.

“I still have some juice and I’m going to deliver it on Saturday night.

Wilder and Zhang face to face at Thursday's press conference.  Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Wilder and Zhang face to face at Thursday’s press conference. Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

“Can’t wait.

“I’ll be like Ali and Liston. I’m going to stand over his body like in ’65.

“Just like Ali [to] Liston in 1965

“So I’m looking forward to this fight, I’m looking forward to it.

“It was an absolute pleasure to be back here again and I have to give it my all.

“Then do or die.”

Wilder captains Hearn's Matchroom in the 5v5 match. Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing
Wilder captains Hearn’s Matchroom in the 5v5 match. Photo: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

Zhang (41) is also looking to recover from his defeat against Parker, who overtook him on points in March despite suffering two knockdowns.

Wilder, who missed a lucrative and long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua after defeat to the Up-to-date Zealander, could set up an All-American clash with Jared Anderson on August 3 after victory over the Chinese southpaw, but admitted a second straight defeat would likely mean the end of his career.

“The real answer will be Saturday night. We’ll see,” the Alabama native said No seconds.

“It could be the end of a career.

“This could be the last goodbye, goodbye to Deontay Wilder, if I lose.

“If I win, of course I will win, I will go on to bigger and better things.”

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

UK Boxing

Janibek vs. Andrei Mikhailovich – preview and predictions for the huge fight

Published

on

Janibek and Mikhailovich were supposed to meet in July Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Janibek Alimkhanuly defends his IBF middleweight world title against Andrei Mikhailovich on Saturday in Sydney, live on Sky Sports. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Janibek Alimkhanuly defends his IBF middleweight world title against Andrei Mikhailovich on Saturday in Sydney, live on Sky Sports. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Unified middleweight world champion Janibek Alimkhanuly goes to Australia next Friday, to The Star in Sydney, where he will risk winning the IBF title in a fight with undefeated Up-to-date Zealander Andrei Mikhailovich, although his WBO crown is not at stake.

ESPN+ Janibek vs. Mikhailovich live in the USA Heavenly sports broadcast the fight in the UK.

This match was originally scheduled to take place in July in Las Vegas, but the champion was reportedly hospitalized after trying to gain weight and the fight had to be canceled after a delay.

Janibek (15-0, KO10) was promoted from WBO interim champion in 2022 and defeated Denzel Bentley in a competitive first defense.

After knocking out Steven Butler in two rounds, the Kazakhstan added the IBF title to his collection by defeating Vincenzo Gualtieri in six rounds last October.

Janibek and Mikhajłowicz were supposed to meet in July. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Janibek and Mikhajłowicz were supposed to meet in July. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“Qazaq Style” will now face undefeated Aucklander Mikhailovich (21-0, 13 KO), his country’s top amateur who has won multiple free titles but has no professional victories.

The 26-year-old, who holds the IBF Pan Pacific title, has not faced anyone in the Kazakhstan class, and last April he fell before scoring to stop Edison Saltarin in the fifth round.

Mikhailovich was last seen stopping Less Sherrington in the round in April.

Motu meets O’Connell

The undercard features another undefeated Kiwi in action, with Mea Motu taking on Shannon O’Connell in a scheduled top ten super bantamweight bout.

Motu (19-0, 7 KO) is scheduled to win the IBF and WBO titles in three weeks against defending champion Ellie Scotney and cannot afford to slip up in this fight.

“The Night” will bring her IBO title to England, which she won last April on points over Tania Walters.

The 34-year-old defended twice, and in her only fight in 2024 in April, she stopped Noppaket Srisawas in two rounds.

Former Commonwealth champion O’Connell (24-7-1, 12 KO) has fought for two world titles, most recently losing an eighth-round fight for the IBF bantamweight crown against Ebana Bridges in December 2022.

O'Connell was stopped by Australian rival Ebanie Bridges in December 2022. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
O’Connell was stopped by Australian rival Ebanie Bridges in December 2022. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

The 41-year-old was last sidelined in May, defeating Siriphon Chanbuala in the second round.

Undercard remaining

Prospective lightweight competitor Charlie Kazzi (6-0, 2 KO) fights for eight rounds for the second time in his career and should have already defeated Lui Magaiva (4-6, 1 KO), and the fighter from Papua Up-to-date Guinea was suspended five times in six defeats.

Wayne Telepe (1-0, 1 KO) can claim his second straight stoppage victory, this time in a scheduled four-round lightweight fight against Bashir Nassir (0-1-1).

Continue Reading

UK Boxing

The British heavyweight sensation is considering quitting boxing after a huge offer from WWE

Published

on

Olympic boxer Delicious Orie admits he is considering quitting boxing after receiving an offer to join WWE.

Super heavyweight Orie, 27, won gold medals at the European Championships and Commonwealth Games before representing Team GB at the Paris Olympics this summer.

He lost in the first round by a controversial split decision to former world silver medalist Davit Chaloyan. It seemed certain that Orie, who was born in Russia and moved to Wolverhampton at the age of seven, would turn professional and lead the next generation of British heavyweights.

However, the 6-foot-6-inch heavyweight admits his career path is in doubt after receiving an offer from WWE – the world’s leading professional wrestling promotion – with offers also on the table from top boxing promoters.

“I was invited to potentially join WWE, as crazy as that sounds,” Orie said Finger 2 Finger. “I just went there and saw what it was all about. It was a fantastic experience, I learned a lot in the few days I was there, and it’s definitely something I have on the table as an option.

“This is real. I got this news during the Olympics and at that time I wasn’t really looking at the news, I was completely focused on the Olympics. Then I was on vacation and then I slowly started replying and saw the message.

“At first I thought it was a scam, but then I looked into it more and it turned out to be legit. They said, “We see your potential and we would like to work with you.”

Orie, who is 29-9 as an amateur, was flown to the WWE Performance Center in Florida, where he learned the basics and worked on a finishing move called the “Delicious Haymaker.”

Don’t miss it

However, deciding on his future is a stern matter and he will not rush the process. He continued: “Ultimately I have to make a decision and it’s not something I take lightly. I really need to spend some time on this because ultimately it will shape my entire career. This will be huge.

“I’m at the stage now where I’m waiting for offers, including from WWE, looking at contracts and seeing what WWE expects of me. [boxing] promoters and WWE website.

“I just want to have all the options on the table to be able to make a full decision because no matter what decision I make, I’m going to commit 100% [into it] and I will sacrifice everything to be the best at it.”

Continue Reading

UK Boxing

Nick Ball vs. Ronny Rios – Gigantic Fight Preview and Predictions

Published

on

Ball and Rios face-to-face ahead of Saturday

Nick Ball defends his WBA featherweight world title for the first time against Ronny Rios on Saturday in Liverpool. Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
Nick Ball defends his WBA featherweight world title for the first time against Ronny Rios on Saturday in Liverpool. Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions

Nick Ball defends his WBA featherweight title for the first time when he defeats Ronny Rios this Saturday at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Frank Warren’s Queensberry are promoting the Ball vs Rios match, with TNT Sports broadcasting live in the UK and the event being broadcast on ESPN+ in the US.

Ball (20-0-1, 11 KO) can consider himself unfortunate not to have become a world champion before his momentous world title win in June, when he drew with Rey Vargas in the WBC title fight. March, despite two knockdowns against the Mexican.

The 27-year-old didn’t have to wait long for redemption as he put in an outstanding performance last season dethroning Ray Ford via split decision in Riyad to win the belt he is defending in his hometown this weekend.

Rios (34-4, 17 KO) is a protected first defense for “Wrecking” Ball, and the 34-year-old has suffered defeat in his two previous attempts to win the super bantamweight world title, including against the previously mentioned Vargas.

Ball and Rios face-to-face ahead of Saturday's showdown Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
Ball and Rios face-to-face ahead of Saturday’s showdown Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions

After being stopped in the last round of his fight for the IBF belt in June 2022, the Californian was sidelined for almost two years, only to return to featherweight in April, knocking out Nicholas Polanco in five rounds.

Cain clashes with Casseres

Andrew Cain has bounced back well from a split decision loss to Ionut Baluta last March and is fighting for the vacant WBC International Silver super bantamweight title against Lazaro Casseres.

Cain (12-1, 11 KO) was last seen in July in Birmingham, stopping Ashley Lane for the British and Commonwealth belts, while Casseres (11-1, 4 KO) is on a seven-fight winning streak since becoming the only beat by a professional.

Cain became the new British and Commonwealth Bantamweight Champion. Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions
Cain became the novel British and Commonwealth Bantamweight Champion. Photo: Stephen Dunkley/Queensberry Promotions

Rafferty attacks Turner

Commonwealth super-lightweight champion Jack Rafferty puts his title on the line against WBC International silver champion Henry Turner, with the vacant British belt also up for grabs in the 12-round fight.

Rafferty (23-0, 14 KO) won the Commonwealth crown with a first-round stoppage of Lee Appleyard last December, before picking up a third-round victory over Sabari Jaishankar in June.

Turner (13-0, 5 KO) won his belt in 2022 and has defended it four times, most recently a fifth-round stoppage of Maykol Mendoza in April.

Undercard remaining

In the second and final tenth round after Cain’s fight with Casseres, the talented Cuban Jadier Herrera (15-0, 13 KO) will appear, and the lightweight star can score another early victory, this time against Oliver Flores (31-5-2, 20 KO). . from Nicaragua.

In eight rounds, lightweight James McGivern (9-0, 3 KO) can win on points against Argentinian Reuquen Cona Facundo Arce (17-16-2, 7 KO), who knocked down Archie Piercing twice before losing on points in May.

Super bantamweight talent Brad Strand (11-1, 3 KO) is coming off a defeat in the fight for the British and Commonwealth titles against Dennis McCann, but he should return to winning ways here with a victory against Marvin Solano (24-19, 24- 19, KO) 8 KO).

In six rounds, Jack Turner (8-0, 7 KO) may have to settle for points success against the tough bantamweight Gonzalo Corinaldesi (5-6-1, 1 KO) and Nelson Birchall (5-0, 2). KO) should do the same in his super featherweight fight against Mark Butler (3-12, 1 KO).

Heavyweight Hope, Boma Brown (4-0, 2 KO) will have to be content with a points victory over Amine Boucetta (8-16).

In four rounds, Walter Fury (1-0) should triumph on the scorecard in the super welterweight fight against Dale Arrowsmith (6-114-5, 1 KO), and in the middleweight fight Joe Cooper (1-0) should also win decision against Łukasz Barabasz (4-13, 2 KO).

Debutant Lucas Biswana should start with a points victory over Jakub Laskowski (4-31-1, 2 KO).

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending