Deontay Wilder To Fight Two Top Contenders This Summer

Written by: Sean Crose

Perhaps Deontay Wilder's shock loss to Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia last December was just what the tall Alabaman needed to get his career back on track. In fact, the vibe online was basically that Wilder was made the top heavyweight after dropping a decision to Parker, which Wilder should have beaten. Boxing, however, is always full of surprises. Because, after the announcement that Wilder will be facing the likes of hard-hitting Zhilei Zhang on June, the 1st, news has now come that Wilder may face the undefeated Jared Anderson on August 3'd, too.

Zhang, who Wilder will face in Saudi Arabia, like Wilder, recently dropped a fight to Joseph Parker. Perhaps surprisingly, however, ESPN reports that Zhang is currently the betting favorite to top Wilder. This may be because Wilder looked out of form against Parker last winter. Still, there's no doubt that Wilder has extraordinary power. Indeed, this man may be the hardest hitter in the history of the sport. Then again, Zhang has kept most of his opponents at bay. At least this should make for an interesting match. It will be a great job promotion for the winner.

For Wilder, of course, there is a chance to fight Anderson, a man who has never heard of defeat and has only gone the distance twice. If the former WBC heavyweight champion can get past both men, it will be hard to argue that Wider is no longer worthy of the heavyweight title, even though his title was lifted by Tyson Fury a few years ago. Indeed, Fury beat Wilder twice three times (the first fight between the two men was a draw). As for the popular Zhang, a win over Wilder will bring him a ton of fame as he tries to climb the heavyweight ladder. And the same, of course, goes for Anderson.

Of course, the fight between Wilder and Anderson is not guaranteed. However, Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi official behind boxing in his nation, has made it clear that he would like to see Wilder fight Anderson before the summer comes and goes. However, Alalshikh made it clear that he only wants Wilder to face Anderson “if he is ready at that time to fight after the June 1 fight with Zhilei Zhang.” That being said, Alalshikh has so far proven himself to be someone who can make big things happen in the fight game.