Wilder succumbs to Big Bang's theory

Raw Chinese power shook the new capital of world boxing, as heavyweight star Zhang Zhilei threw down the gauntlet to the division's elite with a brutal knockout of former champ Deontay Wilder.

As a proud representative of China, and a rare Asian presence at the top echelon of heavyweight boxing, the evergreen Zhang has reignited his career at the age of 41 by switching off the lights on the United States' former WBC world heavyweight titleholder Wilder in their highly-touted "clash of titans" on Saturday at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, the emerging challenger to Las Vegas as the sport's epicenter.

With such a statement performance, and the subduing of a former division tyrant, Zhang has almost certainly reestablished himself as a legitimate challenger for the division's ultimate prize — now held by Ukraine's undisputed heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk, who holds the belts of all four promotions after beating Tyson Fury last month, adding the Briton's WBC strap to his own collection of WBA, IBF and WBO titles.

The "Big Bang", as Zhang is known in the ring, has also enjoyed immediate redemption after a disappointing decision loss to New Zealand's Joseph Parker three months ago at the very same venue.

"The 'Big Bang' is back! The 'Big Bang' is here!" Zhang said in his post-fight interview.

"This was just another step on my road back to a championship bout. I am calm inside after this fight," Zhang posted on his social media account on Sunday morning, when his KO win against Wilder became a trending topic on multiple online platforms.

"Wilder is a great opponent. His punches are super heavy and very dangerous. But, tonight, I am the winner. I flew my national flag in Saudi Arabia. The Chinese won!"

After swallowing a fourth defeat in his last five bouts, Wilder, known as the "Bronze Bomber", was pushed to the edge of hanging up his gloves after a stellar career — which boasts a five-year reign atop the WBC heavyweight class from 2015-20 — after apparently running out of gas and strength at the age of 38, a fact that was underlined on Saturday.

After a few rounds of tentative exchanges of jabs in the first round, Zhang picked up his offense in the second. He connected with an uppercut, though Wilder steadied himself and landed with a right uppercut of his own. Momentum quickly shifted back to Zhang, as Wilder is at a stage in his career where he can no longer pull the trigger on his once devastating right hand.

The native of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, then tried to turn that around in the fourth, while Zhang continued to press forward, but didn't cause much damage, at least, not until his explosive burst in the fifth that sent the Saudi crowd into a frenzy.

The moment came midway through the round, when Zhang first connected with a perfectly timed right hook that spun Wilder into a daze. With Wilder defenseless and retreating to the corner, Zhang sprinted in and smashed him with another right hand that planted the American hard on the canvas.

Referee Kieran McCann issued his count as Wilder scrambled to his feet. He was unable to steady himself to a point where the action was able to resume, as McCann waved his arms to end the fight.

"I blocked a few punches, but hell yeah, he punches hard," Zhang, who now keeps a career record of 27-2-1 with 22 KOs, said of Wilder's threat in the bout.

"I give him a lot of respect. He's a heavy puncher, but I successfully took his right hand away."

The win came three months after Zhang's defeat on March 8, when Parker (35-3, 23 KOs), The Ring's 3rd-ranked heavyweight, overcame two knockdowns from the Chinese veteran to earn a decision victory.

"I lost my last fight because I was overconfident following my wins over Joe Joyce, and I didn't prepare for Parker as seriously as I should have," Zhang said.

"I lost my focus in training and during that fight. It taught me a tough lesson that I should never get sloppy and I should never lose my focus whatsoever."

Standing 1.98 meters tall, with an intimidating size, the Chinese southpaw wields exceptional power and technique in his one-two combination, and absorbs blows with his mountain-like physique.

After building his name as an amateur, and winning an Olympic silver medal (+91kg) at his home Games in 2008, Zhang turned pro in 2014, and has since progressed into a rare Asian heavyweight success, underlined by his two straight stoppage wins over Britain's former world champ Joyce last year.

Zhang, who is now ranked 5th in the heavyweight division by The Ring, should have plenty of options going forward.

While Usyk heads toward a championship rematch with Fury on Dec 21 in Riyadh, Zhang could perhaps seek revenge in a rematch with Parker, who was ringside for the Saturday fight. Another option for Zhang will potentially present itself in September, with a fight against Anthony Joshua at Wembley Stadium, though that opportunity could go to Daniel Dubois, who stopped Filip Hrgovic on Zhang-vs-Wilder's undercard on Saturday.

Whoever Zhang's next target ends up being, his career continues to reach new heights following his biggest win yet. Wilder's, however, may have gone out with a "big bang".

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn