Deontay Wilder vowed a knockout comparable to Muhammad Ali when he faces Zhilei Zhang in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
Wilder fights for the 48th time as a professional when he meets Zhang at the top of the Queensberry vs Matchroom card in Riyadh, live on TNT Sports Box Office and DAZN pay-per-view.
‘The Bronze Bomber’, who is Eddie Hearn‘s Matchroom captain, looked out of sorts in a unanimous decision defeat to Joseph Parker in December.
However, the 38-year-old, who has recorded 42 knockouts from 43 wins, promised to deliver a performance close to his explosive best and even said he would stand over his rival in a similar vein to how Ali did when he knocked out Sonny Liston in their rematch in 1965.
“I’m looking forward to proving that I’ve still got what it takes,” Wilder said during Thursday’s press conference.
“I’ve still got the juice and I’m going to deliver come Saturday night.
“I can’t wait.
“I’m gonna be like Ali and Liston. I’m going to stand over his body like ’65.
“Like Ali did [to] Liston in ’65.
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“So, I’m looking forward to the fight, I can’t wait.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure coming back here again and I must deliver.
“It’s do or die.”
Zhang, 41, is also looking to bounce back from defeat to Parker, who outpointed him in March despite suffering two knockdowns.
Wilder, who missed out on a lucrative and long-awaited showdown against Anthony Joshua after losing to the New Zealander, can set-up an all-American clash with Jared Anderson on August 3 with victory over the Chinese southpaw, but admitted a second straight defeat would likely spell the end of his career.
“Saturday night is the true answer and we’re gonna see,” the Alabama man told Seconds Out.
“This could be the end of the career.
“This could be the final goodbye, the farewell of Deontay Wilder, if I lose.
“If I win I prevail of course, I go onto bigger and better things.”
