Zhilei Zhang outweighed former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder by 68.2 kilos Friday forward of their battle Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that may headline the Frank Warren-Eddie Hearn 5 vs. 5 occasion.
China’s Zhang weighed 282.8 kilos whereas Alabama’s Wilder was 214.6 kilos. Each heavyweights are reeling from upset resolution 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 twice in March however was nonetheless defeated.
Now, each boxers are in determined want of a victory to stay related within the sport’s glamour division. Zhang, 41, is ESPN’s No. 6 heavyweight; Wilder, 38, is No. 7.
Regardless of the load drawback, Wilder will maintain a 1-inch peak benefit at 6-foot-7. Wilder weighed 1 pound greater than he did in opposition to Parker however got here in far lighter than his profession heaviest of 238 within the trilogy bout with Tyson Fury.
That loss to Fury was named ESPN’s 2021 Struggle of the Yr and KO of the Yr. Wilder will characterize Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing as group captain, and subsequently will earn double factors in victory. One level might be awarded for a choice win and two factors for a KO/TKO win. Wilder stands to earn 4 factors for his group if he can add Zhang to his checklist of 42 knockouts.
The profitable promoter will earn $3 million.
Dmitry Bivol, ESPN’s No. 5 pound-for-pound boxer, weighed 175 kilos for his WBA gentle heavyweight title protection Saturday vs. Malik Zinad, who was 174.2 kilos. That battle is not a part of the 5 vs. 5, however the next 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
Mild heavyweight bout
Craig Richards 174.2; Willy Hutchinson 174