EXCLUSIVE: Zhang Zhilei to fight Deontay Wilder in blockbuster heavyweight clash

It's been announced that ‌Chinese heavyweight boxing star Zhang Zhilei will take on hard-hitting Deontay Wilder, with the pair meeting in the ring on June 1.

Zhilei, also known as 'Big Bang', succumbed to only his second professional defeat in his last fight against New Zealander Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia back in March.

But just over two months later, Zhilei could put the disappointment of defeat behind him as he returns to the Middle East for a must-win blockbuster bout against Wilder. 

The defeat against Parker was especially tough to take for Zhilei, given that he had knocked down his opponent in two separate rounds early on in the fight, only for Parker to fight back and eventually win on points.

Wilder himself also lost his last fight to Parker back in December, in a disappointing performance which saw him lose by unanimous decision.

The Chinese boxer has been in London for a mini training camp to prepare for the Wilder fight, before returning to the U.S. to finish off his preparations.

The Wilder fight is part of a '5 vs 5' event which sees five boxers representing the Queensbury promotion company take on five boxers from the Matchroom promotion team.

Speaking exclusively to CGTN Europe after his fight against Parker, Zhilei admitted that he became too confident during the fight.

"I probably didn't have the same mentality as when I fought Joe Joyce, because when I fought Joyce, I told myself I was going to take the belt from him, and then in the second fight, it was me guarding the belt. The desire to defeat him was very strong," he said.

"After defeating Joyce, I became overconfident, which made me a bit too relaxed when fighting Joseph Parker."

Upper hand

Zhilei added: "In fact, in the first half of the fight, I had the upper hand totally. Towards the end, he changed his tactics. He tried to control the distance, so I couldn't hit him. I started to feel anxious.

"After the fight, I thought about it. I did have a lot of that training for that - including what to do when he held me - but somehow I didn't get my head around it in the second half of the game. I failed to draw on some of the strategies."

Speaking exclusively to CGTN Europe about the fight, Zhilei's co-manager Terry Lane said: "This is a crossroads fight for both sides, it's do or die for both sides. There is just no higher drama in boxing than the type of fight we're going into on June 1."

Lane added: "It's two top heavyweights, both can punch, I don't see it going the distance but the drama is compelling."

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