Social media users believe they have pinpointed the moment when Deontay Wilder may have lost his advantage by knockout.
It comes after the Bronze Bomber, 38, suffered a fifth-round knockout loss to Zhilei Zhang on Saturday night, as Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions completed a 5-0 clean sweep against Eddie’s Matchroom Hearn during the 5v5 event.
The loss was Wilder’s second consecutive loss, having suffered a unanimous loss to Joseph Parker in December. It was also his fourth loss in his last five fights.
While reports are circulating that Joshua could fight Daniel Dubois in September, speculation has arisen over the Bronze Bomber’s long-term future in the sport.
The former WBC champion’s last victory was against Robert Helenius in October 2022, when the American fighter brutally knocked out his opponent in the first round of their fight.
I think they have pointed out the moment when Deontay Wilder (pictured) lost his advantage by knockout.
Wilder (left) was defeated by Zhilei Zhang via fifth-round knockout (right) during Saturday night’s 5v5 event.
Wilder delivered a devastating right hand to the Finnish boxer, sending him to the canvas.
After the fight, he gave an emotional speech in which the Bronze Bomber broke down in tears, after talking about the dangers of boxing and how professionals risk serious injuries when they step into the ring.
He said: ‘(Come on) it’s a good knockout, it’s devastating. Making history and stuff like that.
‘But how much is that man going to suffer? He might be fine right now. A bit. But what about the next day? How about in two weeks? How about in a month? In years?
‘We see what happened. Prichard Colon. This man had no children,” he said before bursting into tears.
A member of his team appeared to comfort him before adding: “They don’t know what we went through.” They do not understand. They don’t understand what we go through, man.
Boxing presenter Dav Sahni later reposted the video online, along with an image of the Bronze Bomber and Helenius posing after their fight, stating that this fight may have been the moment that “scared” Wilder.
Wilder’s (left) latest victory came after knocking out Robert Helenius (center) in the first round of their 2022 encounter.
After the fight, the Bronze Bomber (pictured) broke down in tears during an interview where he spoke about the dangers of boxing.
Boxing presenter Dev Sahni believes this may have been the moment Wilder lost his clinical edge.
“I think when Deontay Wilder knocked out his friend Robert Helenius it scared him and we lost the Bronze Bomber that day,” boxing host Sahni wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“He cried at the press conference afterwards when he talked about the dangers of the sport and never knocked out a man again.”
Wilder’s record currently stands at 43-4-1, and following his loss against Zhang, it appears that a potential showdown between him and Joshua may not happen.
The pair have been going around for many years and it seemed that if Wilder had beaten Parker in December, the pair could have taken to the ring in a long-awaited reunion.
Joshua was asked on Saturday night what he thinks the future holds for Wilder, but urged the American not to rush into retirement.
“It’s completely up to him, I can’t say,” the British fighter told DAZN.
Questions have been raised over the 38-year-old wrestler’s (left) long-term future in the sport.
“I just look and say, ‘if you want to do it, do it’, there’s no big deal about boxing, if you want to fight, keep fighting, and if you don’t want to do it, don’t do it.” Do it more, it’s where your heart is.
“He faced a good fighter in Zhilei, he’s an Olympic athlete, Zhilei, people forget that, he’s come through, he’s got a great style, I fought him before in the Olympics and he’s still doing what he does now, many years later .I was with a really good and experienced professional with a great pedigree.
“It doesn’t matter, come back if you want, and if not, you have your family there, there is another life outside of boxing for him.”
