After Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang’s Next Target: A China Homecoming

Heavyweight Zhilei Zhang knocked out Deontay Wilder on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia, possibly marking the end of the 38-year-old Wilder’s career and setting the stage for Zhang to enjoy a potential homecoming in China.

The fifth-round KO completed a clean sweep for Queensberry Promotions, as its five fighters won all five of their matchups over their Matchroom Boxing rivals. Zhang’s victory sealed the 5-0 triumph for Queensberry in the “5 vs 5” event.

Frank Warren, head of Queensberry Promotions, declared to the media that Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs), nicknamed “The Big Bang,” is back. A triumphant Zhang, 41, used his catchphrase to make a celebratory joke.

“Today, Queensberry banged Matchroom,” Zhang said with a laugh.

Zhang’s defeat of Wilder attracted significant viewership in China, as stated in the “5 vs 5” press conference, despite his last fight held there being in 2018, when he stopped journeyman Donald Haynesworth in three rounds. Since then, Zhang has twice stopped Joe Joyce and now knocked out Wilder. Those fights took place in Europe and Saudi Arabia, respectively.

“You know what we are going to do,” Warren said at the press conference. “We are going to do a show in China, I hope.”

Zhang, holding the Chinese flag high and wide after what was arguably the biggest win of his career, expressed his immense pride in his nation and what seemed to be his desire to fight in China again. Zhang’s team stated that the 6-foot-6 heavyweight was the No. 1 trending topic on TikTok in China during his bout.

“This is my mission,” Zhang said. “No matter where I fight, I always want to raise the Chinese national flag.”