Former WBC champion Deontay Wilder is faced with the difficult task of Zhilei Zhang in just four week’s time, as he seeks to bounce back from defeat against the second opponent of his career. However, that hasn’t stopped ‘The Bronze Bomber’ seemingly agreeing a deal to fight again in August, against a top ranked contender.
Wilder was outpointed by Joseph Parker in a upset victory back in December, as the Kiwi schooled one of the hardest punchers of all-time, hardly dropping a round.
Just three months later, Parker was at it again, overcoming the odds once more against the generally avoided Zhang to truly establish himself as a threat to the heavyweight throne.
Those respective losses derailed Wilder’s plans to face Anthony Joshua and Zhang’s imminent world title shot, but an olive branch was offered to both on the ‘Matchroom versus Queensberry’ undercard on the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol bill, where the two heavyweights were selected to fight one another in what appeared to be a ‘do or die’ showdown.
Yet, four weeks out from that encounter, Turki Al-Alshikh has taken to social media to reveal his intentions of staging an all-American potential ‘passing of the torch’ affair between Wilder and ‘the future of the heavyweight division’ – Jared Anderson, assuming that Wilder is fit to fight in time for the stacked August 3rd card in Los Angeles.
“The talented Jared Anderson is with us now on August 3rd Riyadh Season card at LA against the “Bronze Bomber” Deontay Wilder – if he’s ready by then to fight after 1st of June’s fight against Zhilei Zhang.
“I always believe that boxing would be at its peak when you have young American heavyweights like Jared Anderson which I also believe in his talent and his promising future. my advice to him ‘Focus on your future, training, and commitment and you will reach to your goals.’
“Happy to collaborate with Top Rank again – Riyadh Season card 3rd of August in LA, will be one for the history!”
The card is headlined by arguable pound-for-pound number one Terence Crawford, who bids to become a four-division world champion as he takes on WBA title-holder Israil Madrimov on his super-welterweight debut.
Meanwhile, Isaac Cruz defends his WBA super-lightweight title for the first time, Tim Tszyu meets Vergil Ortiz Jr in a 154lb thriller and Andy Ruiz Jr returns after a two-year hiatus to face the loud-mouthed Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller.
The addition of Wilder-Anderson to this card could potentially see it become the stand-out card of the year, with interest in each bout from top to bottom. However, it likely hinges on how Wilder fares against Zhang on June 1st.
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