The Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang odds confirm there’s no big favorite in this one! are now available at sports betting sites! The highly anticipated heavyweight showdown is scheduled to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on June 1.
The country has been pumping out some big-time boxing matches recently. Following on the heels of Usyk vs. Fury, Wilder and Zhang is another heavyweight match coming to Riyadh soon.
While the stakes are lower for this fight, it is expected to be an entertaining bout between two strong hitters. Below, check out the latest odds, analysis, and my best Wilder vs. Zhang predictions.
Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang Betting Odds
The following Zhang vs. Wilder odds are courtesy of Bovada:
- Zhilei Zhang (-170)
- Deontay Wilder (+130)
- Over 7.5 rounds (+105)
- Under 7.5 round (-135)
Bovada’s oddsmakers have Zhang (-170) as the favorite over Wilder. As a -170 favorite, Zhang has an implied chance of almost 63% to win. Wilder will likely see plenty of support from public bettors, but Zhang is the current favorite at boxing betting sites.
The over/under line is set at 7.5 rounds, so the bookmakers expect a knockout in this one!
Tale of the Tape & Fighting Styles
| DEONTAY WILDER | FIGHTER | ZHILEI ZHANG |
|---|---|---|
| 38 | Age | 41 |
| American | Nationality | Chinese |
| 43 | Wins | 26 |
| 3 | Losses | 2 |
| 42 | T(KO) | 21 |
| 6’7” / 201 cm | Height | 6’6” / 198 cm |
| 225 lbs / 99.8 kg (approx.) | Weight | 290 lbs / 131.5kg (approx.) |
| 83” / 211 cm | Reach | 80” / 203 cm |
| Orthodox | Stance | Southpaw |
Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang both have imposing figures in the boxing ring. When they set foot on the mat, it’s hard not to take notice of them. Wilder has a slight advantage in height and a three-inch reach advantage.
However, Zhang has a significant upper hand in weight over Wilder. While we don’t have recent weigh-in data, the American will likely be 225 to 230 pounds. Wilder weighed in at just 213 pounds against Joseph Parker in December 2023.
Four years ago, Wilder weighed 231 pounds to fight Tyson Fury, the heaviest of his career. Even if Wilder puts on roughly 20 pounds from December, he will be at a more than 50-pound weight disadvantage!
Deontay Wilder (+125)
Wilder is well-known for his quick-twitch KO power. He has 43 wins in his pro boxing career, with 42 ending with a T(KO)! Wilder is a strategist, but largely known for his incredible power.
He prefers to fight from the mid to long range to keep an advantage with his reach. Fighting from the inside isn’t Wilder’s strength.
The Bronze Bomber is regarded as an aggressive fighter who brings the fight to his opponent. A hard punch can sneak up out of nowhere on an opponent with Wilder in the ring. However, that was largely absent in his loss against Joseph Parker.
Wilder was too conservative in fear of Parker connecting with one of his power punches. The American was too timid and didn’t want Parker to counter with KO power, so he went against his typical fighting style.
The 38-year-old from Tuscaloosa, AL, claims he will return to his old boxing style against Zhang. He can’t take the same approach as he did against Parker because it will most likely be a quick loss otherwise.
During his prime and heavyweight title run from 2015 to 2020, Wilder utilized elusive speed to get what he wanted. As the veteran ages, lightning quickness won’t be as much of an asset.
Zhilei Zhang (-155)
If Wilder was worried about Parker knocking him out, he has to be doubly nervous in this fight. Zhang is one of the hardest punchers in boxing. There aren’t many fighters in the history of boxing that come close to matching Wilder’s power.
While Big Bang is one of them, he can end this fight with one punch. Not only does Zhang throw for power, but he is incredibly accurate and crafty.
The Chinese fighter has a far superior boxing technique than Wilder. The 41-year-old Xhang places his punches well and has an effective combination to set up a devastating blow.
Zhang doesn’t have quick footwork, but his punches are quick and clean. That being said, he needs to end the fight in the early rounds because he doesn’t have enough stamina to go long.
Recent Performances & Fighter Form
Zhang and Wilder are at the tail-end of their careers, with a retirement possible following the match. Unfortunately, Zhang didn’t have an opportunity to fight top talent in his early to mid-30s. He’s finally getting a chance and making the most out of his fights in his 40s.
The 41-year-old veteran has been busy over the last year. Since April 15, 2023, Zhang has appeared in three fights. He TKO’d Joe Joyce and then KO’d him five months later in September.
This past March, Zhang suffered the second loss of his career in a majority decision defeat to Parker. He did knock the Australian down more than once, so it wasn’t a lopsided defeat. Nevertheless, the Wilder vs. Zhang betting odds suggest he will bounce back in fine form.
Zhang Last Five Fights:
- LOSS vs. Joseph Parker via Majority Decision (March 8, 2024)
- WIN vs. Joe Joyce via KO (Sept. 9, 2023)
- WIN vs. Joe Joyce via Joe Joyce via TKO (April 15, 2023)
- LOSS vs. Filip Hrgovic via Unanimous Decision (Aug. 20, 2022)
- WIN vs. Scott Alexander via KO (May 7, 2022)
Wilder has lost three of his previous four fights. If he falls again, it’s likely all over for him as far as his professional boxing career is concerned.
The Bronze Bomber might dabble in the cross-over novelty fights to cash more checks, but four losses in five bouts could be a career killer. To Wilder’s credit, two of those losses were against Fury.
Wilder responded with a KO win over Robert Helenius but was in disappointing form in the loss to Parker. His strategy was perplexing, as Wilder veered away from being aggressive.
Wilder Last Five Fights:
- LOSS vs. Joseph Parker via Unanimous Decision (Dec. 23, 2023)
- WIN vs. Robert Helenius via KO (Oct. 12, 2023)
- LOSS vs. Tyson Fury via KO (Oct. 9, 2021)
- LOSS vs. Tyson Fury via TKO (Feb. 22, 2020)
- WIN vs. Luis Ortiz via KO (Nov. 23, 2019)
Wilder vs. Zhang Prediction and Betting Pick
The Wilder vs. Zhang odds point to the Chinese boxer having roughly a 63% probability of winning. Do I agree with that mark?
The way I see it, Zhang has closer to a 65% chance of winning this bout. With this in mind, Zhang at -185 or -195 is more accurate.
Although Wilder is a harder puncher, Zhang is the more strategic and savvier fighter. His accurate punches add up throughout a round. It’s not like Zhang lacks power, either.
It can be frustrating to repeatedly eat his accurate strikes. The worst for Wilder is his minimal head movement. That isn’t going to work against Zhang. Wilder’s mediocre footwork and weak head movement will be his downfall versus an accurate boxer.
The American will make this a competitive fight due to his power but should wear out in Round 3 of Round 4. Zhang finishes Wilder with a KO en route to a huge win for his resume. Consider backing Zhang to win at -170 odds!
More Wilder vs. Zhang Betting Opportunities
Wilder vs. Zhang is shaping up to be a thriller in Saudi Arabia! Bovada offers more options like method of victory, over/under, and more.
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