Otto Wallin Analyzes Zhang Zhilei vs. Deontay Wilder Heavyweight Showdown

Swedish heavyweight boxer Otto Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) shared his thoughts with the media today about yesterday’s clash between Zhang Zhilei and Deontay Wilder. In that bout, Zhang (27-2-1, 22 KOs) secured a significant victory by stopping Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs) in the fifth round.

Wallin commented: “Zhang performed well, outmuscling Wilder. People were expecting an exciting fight, and Zhang proved to be the better man. He was sharper than Wilder, who has never been the most technically sound boxer but has always had immense power that would knock opponents out once he landed. However, it seems Wilder has lost some of that power, and that’s made a difference. As for whether he should continue his boxing career, that’s up to Wilder, but this defeat must be hard to swallow. Losing to Joseph Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) before and now Zhang, we’ll see what decision Wilder makes going forward.”

The 38-year-old Wilder currently holds a professional record of 43 wins, four losses, and one draw, with 42 of those wins coming by way of knockout, ranking him 36th on the BoxRec heavyweight list. Since being knocked out by Tyson Fury (34-1-1, 24 KOs) for the third time in October 2021, Wilder appeared to have lost his edge. His first-round KO of Robert Helenius last October for a paycheck didn’t demonstrate his true abilities, but his recent outings against Parker and Zhang have shed light on his current form.