#14 Zhilei Zhang and #25 Deontay Wilder both hope for a big comeback fight in Saudi Arabia; and #9 Filip Hrgovic hopes to remain undefeated against #31 Daniel Dubois
Among the 4 fighters there are 2 bronze Olympic medals (Wilder and Hrgovic) and one silver (Zhang). Zhang weighed in at 282, Wilder at 214.
Zhang vs. Wilder is about to start
- Typical southpaw vs. orthodox handplay early. Wilder being backed up, neither throwing anything. Right to the body from Wilder. Zhang lunges in with a left, they clinch. Wilder spins away from being trapped against the ropes. A whole lot of nothing this round, not giving any advantage for that. 10-10
- Wilder swings the right to the body a few times. Zhang continues to corner him and try to unload. Same as first round but Zhang does land a solid punch, about the only one of the fight so far. That and "ring generalship" I guess is worth the round for Zhang 10-9; 20-19
- Zhang resumes walkdown, Wilder seems as unlikely to throw as he did against Parker. Zhang is a much bigger, slower target though. Zhang lands a decent punch, which for this fight is worth everything. Wilder cornered again, takes a bit of damage nothing too bad, but he's not scoring at all. Zhang 10-9; 30-28
- Not surprising these two are throwing so few punches, they are #1 and #3 among low-volume in the HW division, which says a lot. They are living up to that. Wilder almost falls down dodging a Zhang feint. Wilder occasionally throws a right to the body but misses due to the southpaw-orthodox distance. Finally lands a right hand, but it isn't fight-ending, and he didn't do much the rest of the round. Neither did Zhang. 10-10; 40-38 Zhang
- Wilder lands an early right hand on Zhang. Finally some action in round 5 as they both block each other's efforts and both score. Wilder has found some energy. Zhang lands, Wilder takes it well. Wilder lands again but Zhang lands a BIGGER shot and Wilder looks in trouble, Zhang chases him down and hits again and Wilder goes down flat. REF STOPS THE FIGHT even though Wilder made it back up
Wilder was in no shape to continue. Zhilei Zhang TKO 5 Deontay Wilder
This might be it for Wilder, he never looked like he wanted to fight despite his claimed resurgence of will. Zhang fought like he always does, plodding and (occasionally) powerful. He moves back up but only has so much time left himself.
First up among the HWs was Hrgovic vs. Dubois
- Dubois looks huge, jabbing from the center of the ring. Hrgovic winging a left hook jab, holding hand low. Right cross from Hrgovic. Fighters are swinging now already in the middle of the first round. Dubois takes another right hand well. Dubois responds with a right! Finally the take a break and clinch but go right back to swinging. It's measured action though, not chaotic and wild. Jab at the end for Dubois, great round. Dubois wasn't hurt but took more of the big shots. Hrgovic 10-9
- They start right where they left off, the first minute and first half of the round is constant action. Hrgovic lands more right hands and Dubois' jab is working too. Good right from Dubois who is doing well in the 2nd half but Hrgovic gets in another right. Double jab from Dubois and a good left hand! He might have stolen the round, it's very close. Dubois 10-9; 19-19
- Dubois pretty aggressive at the start as Hrgovic was cut last round from a clash of heads Dubois punch. Combo from Hrgovic, but he looks a bit frustrated by the pace. Exchange and Hrgovic lands better, more right crosses, but Dubois is undaunted. Good round for both guys, this is a hell of a fight. 10-10; 29-29
- Another fast start from Dubois with his jabs. Jab from Hrgovic pops Dubois, but big right hand doesn't faze him. More clinching as the fighters are finally tiring. Nothing is hurting Dubois, who keeps up his high work rate with the jab. Dubois pops Hrgovic a few times with jabs. Really hard to say who is winning this fight, gotta punt again. 10-10; 39-39
- Dubois lunges in with Hrgovic in the corner. Hrgovic combo goes to the body, and smacks Dubois with a punch he finally seems to feel in the middle of the round. Right hand from Hrgovic. Dubois is trying to make the round close though. Stiff jab from Hrgovic. Big right near the end too. Hrgovic 10-9; 49-48
- Slightly slower start to this round but it's still fast by HW standards. Good exchange by the ropes as both connect. They clinch after 1 minute, both slowing down. Dubois walks in and clinches again. Both connect with right hands. Hrgovic's right is coming up short this round. Sluggish round from both guys 10-10; Hrgovic 59-58
- Dubois aggressive again. Hrgovic has cuts over both eyes. Dubois whiffs on some big hooks, backing Hrgovic into corner. Dubois connects with some shots and Hrgovic looks very tired, on the defensive. His punches are lacking power too. Dubois is really taking control of this round, and maybe the fight if Hrgovic doesn't recover. Big round for Dubois. Hrgovic offering little defense at this point. Dubois warned about use of head, Hrgovic is barely standing. Dubois 10-9; 68-68
- Dubois going for the kill, but he's tired too. Dubois rocks him, Hrgovic tries to clinch. Break for doctor to look at Hrgovic's cuts, and they stop the fight from the cuts!
Daniel Dubois TKO Filip Hrgovic round 8 due to medical stoppage
Hrgovic was probably overconfident going in, saying the fight was going to be easy. He certainly hit Dubois with a half dozen shots that might have stopped another fighter, but Dubois walked through everything. Hrgovic got tired first and his defense went away and the cuts made everything tougher—and ultimately led to the doctor stoppage