Trainer Wonders If Zhilei Zhang Can Handle Deontay Wilder’s Power

Dewey Cooper a trainer of Mike Tyson and Francis Ngannou will be interested to see how Zhilei Zhang deals with Deontay Wilder’s power.

Zhang and Wilder are set to box on Saturday in the 5 v 5 event, as both are coming off losses. Wilder already has a fight scheduled if he wins here, but Cooper says Wilder needs to be focused on this matchup as it is do-or-die for his career.

“Two power punchers versus each other,” Cooper said of Wilder and Zhang (via BoxingScene). “We will see what Zhang can take. If Zhang can take Wilder’s power, he’s winning the fight. But I don’t think Zhang’s going to be able to take the hard punches of Wilder. I know Wilder looked really dismal in his last fight with Joseph Parker, but if Wilder has anything left, he has to show it now. He has to show it now. There’s no tomorrow…

“This is definitely a crossroads fight for Deontay Wilder,” said Cooper. “He must get it done, and in saying that, I do think he will. Zhang has a bit of a problem with his conditioning, and I really don’t see Deontay Wilder being the type of guy that can really motivate Zhang to get in tremendous shape, or better shape than he was for Joseph Parker. So I think Wilder gets it done this time.”

Ultimately, Dewey Cooper believes Deontay Wilder does have the power to KO to stop Zhang, but believes it has to be early. If Wilder doesn’t get the win early, Cooper expects Zhang to finish Wilder.

“Yes, that’s the only way he wins, is by stoppage. He has to stop him,” Cooper said. “I think he has the power to take down the big, strong Chinese guy, who’s a great guy, by the way. I met him when we were getting ready for Joshua out there [in Saudi Arabia]. Great guy, cool guy, sweetheart of a guy. He’s a big monster, but Deontay Wilder definitely has the power to stop anybody, and I think he will get it done. He has to, because it’s not going to a decision either way. If Wilder doesn’t stop Zhang, Zhang’s stopping him for sure. That fight will not go 12 rounds.”