In an intriguing twist to the summer boxing lineup, Deontay Wilder is set to square off against Zhilei Zhang on the undercard of the much-anticipated Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol light heavyweight showdown. This bout will be part of the first-of-its-kind 5-on-5 series, jointly presented by Matchroom Boxing and Queensberry Promotions, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on June 1, as reported by Jake Donovan of The Ring.
Wilder, a former WBC heavyweight champion, aims to rebound from his recent unanimous decision loss to Joseph Parker last December, which marked his third defeat in his last four outings, dropping his record to 43-3-1. At 38, Wilder faces a crucial juncture in his storied career.
Conversely, 40-year-old Zhang, who also faced a setback against Parker in March, looks to recover from the loss that cost him the WBO interim heavyweight title. His professional tally now stands at 26-2-1.
The event, which pitches fighters from Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions against Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, promises intense rivalry and drama. Highlights of the undercard include Filip Hrgović vs. Daniel Dubois and Raymond Ford defending his WBA featherweight title against Nick Ball. Points will be awarded for decisions and knockouts, with team captains having the opportunity to earn double points, adding a strategic layer to the competition.
