Former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder could be on a collision course with rising American contender Jared Anderson, provided he gets past his upcoming challenge against China's unbeaten Zhilei Zhang.
Wilder, known as "The Bronze Bomber," is set to take on the dangerous Zhang on June 1st in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. It's a crucial bout for the 37-year-old Alabama native as he looks to rebound from a shocking points loss to Joseph Parker late last year - a defeat that derailed his efforts to regain his footing at heavyweight's summit.
That Parker setback came on the heels of Wilder's epic trilogy against Tyson Fury from 2018-2021, where he dropped two out of three fights to the British star. A loss against Zhang could prove disastrous for Wilder's fading championship ambitions.
However, if victorious, reports indicate Wilder may be lined up for a high-stakes August showdown in Saudi Arabia against the unbeaten 23-year-old Anderson. The fight would likely land on the undercard of Terence Crawford's anticipated clash with Israil Madrimov.
Saudi entertainment chief Turki Alalshikh seemed to confirm the bout's framework this week on X (formerly Twitter), stating: "The talented Jared Anderson is with us now on August 3rd Riyadh Season card...against the 'Bronze Bomber' Deontay Wilder - if he's ready by then to fight after [facing] Zhilei Zhang."
Alalshikh expressed excitement about the Anderson-Wilder matchup, praising the young contender's talents and bright future while urging him to "focus on your future, training, and commitment."
For his part, Anderson has made no secret of his eagerness to test himself against one of America's heavyweight heroes. "I respect Deontay...but he can't beat me, and I'm just going to leave it at that," Anderson stated boldly. "I'm too much of a well-rounded boxer, and I'm going to beat him in great fashion."
Wilder, however, remains solely focused on the daunting Zhang challenge ahead. "I'm expecting his A-plus-plus game...he seems like a true killer," Wilder said of his Chinese foe. "Eventually he burns out and that might be the end of him dealing with a fighter like me."
If the heavy-handed Wilder can indeed solve the riddle of Zhang's early aggression, an intriguing inter-generational battle with Anderson could dramatically raise the young contender's profile. But any slip-up against the unbeaten Zhang would likely snuff out that high-stakes American showdown before it begins.