“Talk about a great pairing of nicknames — “The Bronze Bomber” versus “Big Bang” Zhang. This is a fight that demands a knockout ending, and according to the oddsmakers who have Zhang a slight favorite, one has the right to assume they’re most swayed by the difference in punch resistance that favors Zhang as well as Wilder’s dismal performance against common conqueror Joseph Parker, a man Zhang floored twice before losing on points. If Zhang lands his lethal left cross on Wilder’s chin, especially early, there will be no opportunity for Wilder to exploit Zhang’s biggest weakness, stamina. That’s what happened in the Joe Joyce rematch and the pick is that Zhang’s “Big Bang” will be enough to take out the “Bronze Bomber.”
Back when Mike Tyson first showed up in public in 2003 with his now-instantly recognizable tribal face tattoo, the first reaction of many folks was, “huh?” followed by, “why?” followed by, “seriously though, why?” But let’s be honest: was anyone going to make fun of him to his face and risk getting detonated by one of Iron Mike’s fists? No, sir. Not only was Tyson still the #1 dude who you did not want to get into a brawl with (and also the man with the most disproportionate “intimidating presence: intimidating voice” ratio), he had bitten off a bit of Evander Holyfield’s ear during a boxing match back in 1997. Tyson was considered volatile, as well as loose, cannon.
Round 3: Zhang moves him around with easy. Wilder’s corner implored him to do something, saying they don’t want him to be a punching bag. For the first minute of this round he is. He’s just not punching. Zhang moves him to the corner, hits, Wilder moves away, and it happens again.
Paul redirected his energy to facing boxers with more experience, after suffering a decision loss to Tommy Fury in 2023, with the goal of being ranked by a sanctioning body and eventually challenging for a world championship. He followed the traditional boxing track for two bouts — knockout wins over journeymen Andre August and Ryan Bourland — before he pivoted back to a fight against Tyson.
3:44 p.m. ET/ 8:44 p.m. GMT: Next up is Raymond Ford (Matchroom) defending his WBA featherweight championship against rampaging Englishman Nick Ball (Queensberry). Ball is coming off a highly controversial draw against WBC champ Rey Vargas. This is the first defense of the title for Ford, who won the vacant crown with a 12th-round stoppage over the previously unbeaten Otabek Kholmatov. We’ll immediately be switching back to round-by-round coverage.
After winning third place in the unlimited weight class in boxing in the 2001 National Games of China, he was called in as a sparring partner for the Chinese national boxing team in 2002. In 2003, he lost 22:8 in the first round of the 2003 World Amateur Boxing Championships to Grzegorz Kiełsa. At the 2004 World University Boxing Championships, he lost in the final to Rustam Saidov. Zhang enrolled at Zhengzhou University in 2005 and graduated in 2009 majoring in sports training. At the 2005 World Amateur Boxing Championships in China, he beat Vugar Alekperov 20:11 before losing to eventual champion Odlanier Solis (17:7).
“In 2008 I made the Olympics and I got the silver medal, that’s when people started to recognize that there’s a big Chinese heavyweight that can fight. But that was it. Then I turned pro and in ten years I feel like I settled down, I’m not clout chasing. The more I settle down I realize I have to work hard and get where I am right now. I believe in both west and east worlds, I’m being recognized a lot more than before,” said Zhang.
As an amateur, he was highly regarded by American promoters by 2009 after winning a silver medal at the 2008 Olympics and bronze medals at the 2007 and 2009 World Championships. His career stalled from 2009 to 2019, however, by a combination of his belated release from the Chinese boxing authorities to turn professional, the managerial and legal fiasco of two successive fringe promotional companies, and his visa problems. He could not line up high-profile matches until he signed Matchroom Sport in 2020 at 37 years of age. Zhang considered his fight with Jerry Forrest in 2021 to be the landmark moment of his career until that point.
“This is a fight between two heavyweights that can really bang. Unlike Joseph Parker, Zhang will be much easier to find for Wilder. There are clear pathways for his right hand to land versus the huge Chinese southpaw. But just as he did against Fury, he is facing a huge weight deficit, and if he gets pushed back, his right hand is that much less effective. If Zhang come in a bit lighter (and therefore a bit more mobile than he was in his last fight) I expect him to put Wilder on the back foot and eventually stop Wilder in the seventh or eighth round. Wilder is still somewhat dangerous, but I wonder if he has his legs underneath him.”