Deontay Wilder will no longer feature on Riyadh Season’s debut United States card following a knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang.
‘The Bronze Bomber” went down in a move coined, ‘The Spinaroonie KO’ as Zhang spun Wilder around with one shot and finished him with another. Wilder’s loss cost him a place on a massive card topped by Terence Crawford, who challenges for a fourth-weight world title.
The Tuscaloosa native is taking time away from the sport after suffering two straight defeats and four in his last five bouts. Wilder won’t rush a decision on his future.
A former world heavyweight champion and a certainty to be on the future Hall of Fame shortlist, Wilder enjoyed a five-year run as top division ruler and was involved in a 2021 Fight of the Year event alongside Tyson Fury.
Martin Bakole replaces Wilder. The Scotland-based Briton faces another American slugger, Jared ‘The Real Big Baby’ Anderson. Bakole is 20-1 and in good form but is primarily seen as an also-ran waiting to be stopped by a genuine world-rated contender. Anderson could well be that heavyweight and position himself for a top-five collision in the first part of 2025.
Anderson vs Bakole joins a standout six-fight card that was due to be seven until Australian Tim Tszyu was forced to withdraw due to unhealed cuts. Golden Boy’s welterweight star Vergil Ortiz could rejoin the August 3 bill if Turki Alalshikh can find a suitable replacement.
Riyadh Season’s August 3 US debut – Full card:
Terence Crawford vs Israil Madrimov
Isaac Cruz vs Jose Valenzuela
Andy Ruiz vs Jarrell Miller
Jared Anderson vs Martin Bakole
David Morrell vs Radivoje Kalajdzic
Andy Cruz vs Antonio Moran
Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
