Zhilei Zhang Knocks Out, Stops Deontay Wilder In Round 5; Queensberry sweeps the Matchroom in a 5-vs-5 tournament

Zhilei Zhang enjoyed another 'Big Bang.'

The still-deserving heavyweight contender may have sent Deontay Wilder into retirement after a fifth-round knockout. Zhang finished the fight with two right hooks, the last of which knocked out the former WBC heavyweight champion. Wilder scored but was unable to continue in their main event on Saturday evening at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The official time was 1:51 of the fifth round in their DAZN pay-per-view title. Zhang provided for Queensberry, which defeated Matchroom 10-0 in a long 5-vs-5 contest.

He also enjoyed quick redemption after a disappointing loss to Joseph Parker three months ago at the same venue.

“When I lost to Joseph Parker, it was the right decision,” Zhang said through translator and longtime teammate Kurt Li. “He was the better man that night. I think I learned a lot from that fight. After I took out Joe Joyce twice, I was overconfident. I learned that I have to stay focused.”

The action was slow out of the gate, though it matched the scouting report. Zhang and Wilder statistically throw fewer punches than any other competitor in the sport. Both fighters went toe to toe with their splits, while Wilder kept his right hand steady throughout the round. The opening did not reveal itself, as Zhang was prepared for Wilder's money shot.

Zhang raised his case in the second round. He connected with an uppercut, though Wilder braced himself and landed a right uppercut of his own. The momentum quickly returned to Zhang as Wilder was at the stage of his career where he could no longer pull the trigger.

Wilder was awarded just nine punches in three rounds. The 38-year-old from Tuscaloosa, Alabama tried to change that for the fourth time. Zhang continued to go public but did not give much cause for concern.

At least until the next round.

The irony at the end of the knockout was that Wilder got the breakthrough early in the fifth round. He managed to land a right hand that at least caught Zhang's attention. The follow-up effort produced modest results as Zhang regained control and the lead.

Disaster struck in the form of a right hook that left Wilder on his feet. He spun around, defenseless, as Zhang entered to close the show. Another hook from the 41-year-old southpaw sent Wilder sprawling to the canvas as he took a single punch.

Referee Kieran McCann called his count as Wilder staggered to his feet. He couldn't settle to the point of allowing the action to resume as McCann swung his arms to end the fight.

The win came three months after Zhang (27-2-1, 23 knockouts) was knocked out on March 8 at the same venue. Parker (35-3, 23 KOs), The Ring's No. 3-rated heavyweight, he overcame two knockouts to earn a majority decision victory.

Zhang came into the fight on the heels of back-to-back knockouts of Joe Joyce. Parker's defeat ended his interim WBO title, although he returned to heavyweight after Saturday's bout.

“I had to take care of myself [Wilder’s] right hand,” Zhang commented. “I blocked many of his punches. He still punched very hard.”

The same can't be said for Wilder (43-4-1, 42KOs)—not at all.

Wilder has now lost four of his last five starts, including three knockouts. He was stopped twice by Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs), The Ring's No. 1-rated heavyweight. Their February 2020 rematch ended Wilder's five-year WBC reign, having defended the belt ten times.

It worked perfectly as the beginning of the end for one of the most powerful fighters in heavyweight history.

Wilder hit Fury twice but dropped him three times in the eleventh round in their epic trilogy on Oct. 2021. He bounced back with a first-round knockout of Robert Helenius one year later, the last win of his career.

A fourteen-month layoff preceded Wilder's unanimous points loss to Parker last Dec. 23 in Riyadh. He dismissed it as a night off and insisted that Saturday will mark a return to glory. That promise came with a vow that he would call it a career after losing.

At the time, new life was breathed into Zhang's career, for those who thought Parker's loss had ended his late surge.

“The Big Bang is still here,” Zhang insists.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for The Ring and vice president of the Boxing Writers Association of America.

Follow @JakeNDaBox