Zhilei Zhang outweighed Deontay Wilder by almost 70lbs ahead of their fight in the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia tomorrow (June 1) night.
With 63 knockouts between them, their bout has captured the imagination more than any other on the 5 x 5 bill, that features fighters from Queensberry Promotions and Matchroom against one another.
Zhang said after weighing in: “I think it’s a different Deontay Wilder [from the past], he was really hungry, destructive, right now he’s an old soldier.”
Craig Richards and Willy Hutchinson went nose-to-nose but kept a lid on their bad blood and saved it for fight night. Malik Zinad was noticeably taller than WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitrii Bivol, who said: “I know he’s confident, he’s a good fighter, he’s never lost and he wants this fight.”
Bivol said he has not looked ahead to the possible Artur Beterbiev unification fight and said: “I’ve been boxing for more than 25 years, I’m focused on my opponent.”
“I’m feeling fantastic,” Zinad replied. “Tomorrow’s going to be war. I’m so happy for this. Tomorrow is action.”
Daniel Dubois came in at a career-high weight, although Hrgovic outweighed him by two pounds. “Let’s get down to business,” said Hrgovic. “I believe I will smash him tomorrow.”
Dubois countered: “I’m not here to fuck around. I’m here for war. Let’s go.”
WBA featherweight championship
Raymond Ford – 125.4lbs
Nick Ball – 125.8lbs
Middleweight
Hamzah Sheeraz – 159.6lbs
Austin Williams – 159.4lbs
Light heavyweight
Craig Richards – 174.2lbs
Willy Hutchinson – 174lbs
WBA light heavyweight championship
Dmitrii Bivol – 175lbs
Malik Zinad – 174.2lbs
Heavyweight
Daniel Dubois – 245.8lbs
Filip Hrgovic – 247.4lbs
Heavyweight
Zhilei Zhang – 282.8lbs
Deontay Wilder – 214.6lbs
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