The two heavyweight boxers faced off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Zhang, the 41-year-old Chinese fighter known as "Big Bang," took on Wilder, the 39-year-old American called "The Bronze Bomber." The bout carried high stakes, given both fighters' ages.
Zhang controlled much of the action. In the fifth round, he caught Wilder with a counter right hook that spun him around. A follow-up shot knocked Wilder out cold, ending the fight.
After the bout, Zhang confirmed Wilder's reputation for devastating power. He said:
"He's very powerful. His power lives up to the hype. I was able to take away his power in my own way so he couldn't land that much, but in the fifth round he did land a punch and I definitely felt it, but I ate it and moved forward."
Wilder came into the fight off a points loss to Joseph Parker after a period of inactivity. Many wondered if this latest defeat might lead him to retire. When asked about Wilder's future, Zhang refused to give advice:
"That's a question only he can answer. If he chooses to stay in the ring, I wish him the best moving forward. If he chooses to hang them up, I believe that he has made enough money to take care of his family, and I wish him good health."
Wilder has since confirmed he'll keep fighting, though he hasn't set a comeback date yet.
The American boxer has built his career on his punching power. He's scored 42 knockouts in 43 wins and sees himself as the hardest hitter in boxing history. Critics have questioned Wilder's fundamental skills, but his power can change any fight in an instant.
Wilder has expressed interest in facing former UFC Champion Francis Ngannou for his next bout. That matchup would pit two of combat sports' biggest punchers against each other.