Deontay Wilder: The Bronze Bomber is 'back' with 'fire and desire' ahead of Zhilei Zhang 5 vs 5 clash

Deontay Wilder says the Bronze Bomber is “back now” and he has “fire and desire” ahead of his 5 vs 5 clash with Zhilei Zhang.

Wilder has been drafted in to represent Matchroom against Queensberry’s Zhang, in a card that will be shown live on TNT Sports Box Office on Saturday, June 1.

Both are veterans of the division, with Wilder a former WBC champion and one of the most fearsome heavyweights in modern boxing.

Zhang was the WBO interim champion and also possesses a considerable threat after consecutive wins over Joe Joyce.

Both fight on June 1 to headline the event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and both are coming off the back of defeats to Joseph Parker.

Parker said after his win against Wilder that the American’s power has been overrated, but speaking to TNT Sports, Wilder dismissed those claims.

He said: “Joseph Parker is an average fighter, he’s not better than I. I was just off, I’m back now.”

Wilder has been working with Malik Scott since his third defeat to Tyson Fury, and he added that he feels back to his old ways.

He continued: “The old Deontay is back now, because the people who are involved, we want that Bronze Bomber. We want that wildman, and these are direct words which have been said to me.

“So when you get that told to you, and you say, ‘I can be me? I can be free, to say what the **** I want?’ It brings that fire and desire in my heart.”

Asked if he felt he could make his way back to the top of the division after three defeats in his career, he said: “I strongly do, there’s a fire that’s been lit to reunify the division, to be two-time heavyweight champion of the world. I’m on a mission.

“When that beast comes out, there’s no taming him.”

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