Trainer Malik Scott Hopeful Deontay Wilder Will Bounce Back Against Zhilei Zhang
Wilder Seeks Redemption in Matchroom vs Queensberry Showdown
Trainer Malik Scott remains hopeful that former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) will have the opportunity to demonstrate that his last outing against Joseph Parker on December 23 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was simply an off-day.
Wilder is set to return to the ring on June 1, facing Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs), who also suffered a loss in his last appearance against Parker on March 8. The bout is part of the Matchroom vs Queensberry 5×5 bill, a showdown between the promotional stables of British rivals Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren. Wilder will represent the Matchroom banner on a one-fight agreement and has been named Hearn’s official team captain.
At Monday’s press conference confirming the participants, Wilder expressed that he had rediscovered his love for the sport following his defeat to Parker two days before Christmas last year. Trainer Scott spoke to Seconds Out, insisting that Wilder struggled against Parker because he was unable to land his trademark right hand, crediting Parker and trainer Andy Lee for executing a great game plan.
“Joseph Parker and Andy Lee had an incredible game plan. They did just enough to win the rounds,” Scott told Seconds Out. “Deontay was unable to pull the trigger and I’ve seen it happen to the best. But I believe him [Wilder] being ashamed of that performance – and this goes for me too, that’s a performance I’m ashamed of,” added Scott.
The trainer remains hopeful that the destructive version of Wilder will resurface on June 1, with the main objective being to take Zhang later into the fight and capitalize on the 40-year-old Chinese fighter’s fitness concerns.
“If he [Wilder] now goes in and is the Deontay Wilder that I’m always bragging about to you guys, you’re going to see Zhang fall and it’s going to be a beautiful thing. Wilder is very artistic and violent. Zhang is a pop tart when he gets fatigued. He [Zhang] falls apart and he gets really scared. He almost would do anything not to get tired. He just doesn’t like getting into a vulnerable position when he’s tired. Our job is to take him into darkness. I believe Deontay is a much tougher man,” said Scott.
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