Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) dropped Parker in Round 3 after a straight left hand connected flush. Parker, 32, beat the count with a bloody and busted up nose and then continued to outbox the 40-year-old China native.

In 2019, a year before the official closure of Roc Nation’s boxing division, the Lane brothers negotiated Zhang’s release with Matchroom Boxing USA, which Duva, again, had cut a deal with. In 2024, Zhang’s co-manager recalled his promoter tried to stop him leaving by intimidation, dragging him into legal battles and refusing to line him up in fights. Brothers Tommy and Terry Lane, sons of boxing referee Mills Lane, joined Zhang as advisers and helped guide him out of trouble. It was not clear whether this incident was referring to Zhang’s termination of contract in November 2014 or in 2019.

Joyce looked tentative throughout the first three rounds, hesitant to engage and troubled by Zhang’s output. Then, in the final seconds of Round 3, Zhang threw a clean left cross and landed a devastating right hook, dropping Joyce heavily. It was the first time in the Briton’s career that he had hit the canvas, and he narrowly failed to beat the referee’s count after the bell sounded.

Zhang war interimsmäßig Schwergewichtsweltmeister, verlor dann im März 2024 gegen Parker und will nun zurück in die Erfolgsspur. Noch mehr Druck hat sein Gegner bei diesem Fight: Deontay Wilder. Der Bronze Bomber hat drei seiner letzten vier Kämpfe verloren und braucht einen großen Sieg, wenn er wieder in den Dunstkreis eines Weltmeistertitels kommen will.

You have to feel comfortable being uncomfortable. I’m always comfortable being uncomfortable. And to be comfortable being uncomfortable, I have to hone my discipline, which to me is doing what I have to do, but also doing it like I love it.

Genau im Rahmen dieses Events findet auch der Kampf zwischen Zhang und Wilder statt – als einer von gleich fünf spannenden Fights. Übrigens: Das Event findet in der Kingdom Arena in Saudi-Arabiens Hauptstadt Riad statt.

Mistakes are merely mistakes; they are nothing to be ashamed of but certainly to be learned from. All we have to make sure is not to repeat our mistakes. Repeating mistakes makes us stupid beings who did not learn from their past mistakes.

Zhang was born on May 2, 1983, in Qianzhangying village, Shicaoji Township, Shenqiu County, Zhoukou, Henan Province, China. Zhang is the tallest member of his family. By 15 years of age, he was 1.95 meters tall and weighed 120 kg. His father, Zhang Tan (1948–2020 ), was 1.76 meters tall while his mother, Deng Yuying stood just a shade over 1.6 meters tall. His elder brother and elder sister are of a more normal height.

Build-up to the fight had forecast a potential match-up with the likes of Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk or Anthony Joshua for Joyce, but this was Zhang’s night and the victor made known his own intentions to chase down the title holders.

Round 7: Big shots scoring for Dubois. A big right and then a sharp left hook on the inside. Hrgovic not exhibiting good body language. Excellent attack from Dubois again. HUGE RIGHT FROM DUBOIS and Hrgovic looks to be in serious trouble. ANOTHER RIGHT HAND BOMB! And another one. This fight looks like it could be over in the next round.

Zhang, says Tommy, “can be the godfather of Chinese boxing,” a pioneer for future generations. “The next Sugar Ray Robinson could be some 8-year-old from Shanghai who’s never seen a boxing glove,” says Tommy. “They have the athletic talent pool. There’s no reason it can’t be.”

They appeared to be in different weight classes Saturday, too, as Zhang outweighed Wilder by 68.2 pounds — at 282.8 compared with Wilder’s 214.6. There is no weight limit in boxing’s heavyweight division.

Wilder won 42 of his first 43 professional fights and had one draw in that timeframe, but lost back-to-back fights to Tyson Fury in 2020 and 2021. He beat Robert Helenius in 2022 before losing to Parker last year.

Zhilei Zhang outweighed former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder by 68.2 pounds Friday ahead of their fight Saturday site in bing.com Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, that will headline the Frank Warren-Eddie Hearn 5 vs. 5 event.

Life as a professional boxer is defined by discipline, featuring different types of conditioning and strength workouts six days each week — jumping rope, lifting, movements, punching and pair practicing.

In another Memphis fight on February 22, 2003, Tyson beat fringe contender Clifford Etienne 49 seconds into round one. The pre-fight was marred by rumors of Tyson’s lack of fitness. Some said that he took time out from training to party in Las Vegas and get a new facial tattoo. This eventually proved to be Tyson’s final professional victory in the ring.

In the second defense of her title, Zhang faced former strawweight champion Rose Namajunas on April 24, 2021, at UFC 261. She lost the fight by knockout early in the first round after getting caught with a head kick.