Deontay Wilder eyes becoming undisputed champion before leaving boxing - 'I'm looking for greatness'

Deontay Wilder has rediscovered his love for boxing and now has his sights set on becoming undisputed heavyweight king, despite losing three of his last four fights.

The 'Bronze Bomber' is gearing up for a showdown with Zhilei Zhang, live on TNT Sports Box Office this Saturday, as part of the unique 5 v 5 event between Matchroom and Queensberry fighters.

He is regarded amongst the hardest-hitting fighters in the history of the sport, with 42/43 wins coming by way of knockout, but has endured a difficult time of late.

Tyson Fury dethroned Wilder as WBC champion during an enthralling Las Vegas trilogy from 2018-2021, as the Brit drew the first and won the next two.

That came after Wilder had held the belt captive from 2015 with 10 successive title defences, each one before the final bell, except the draw with Fury.

Wilder bounced back from his 'Gypsy King' saga just over a year later, with an almost-sickening first-round KO of Robert Helenius - one which caused the American to break down in tears, such was the worry for his opponent.

He then spent another 14 months out of the ring before the riches of Riyadh Season saw him accept a battle with Joseph Parker, a fellow former champ, as part of the 'Day of Reckoning' heavyweight extravaganza last December.

A horrendous display lacking any conviction or front-foot fighting saw Wilder sleepwalk into a unanimous decision loss to the New Zealander, who then incidentally went on to defeat Zhang.

Though many onlookers thought his time towards the top of the game was entirely over, a previously demoralised Wilder now insists he is climbing back up the mountain.

The 38-year-old told Queensberry: "Every fighter wants to be a champion. If you're in it just for the money, you won't last too long. Money doesn't bring happiness or peace.

"I want to be undisputed champion. That's my goal right now. It's about attaining the titles again, and then I can sail off into the sunset. I'm looking for greatness.

"I want to add to that list of undisputed champions as I leave this business. This is not forever - age is a big factor, but it's also about how you feel and take care of your body.

"I don't know where I'll end at, but I know I don't want to do it forever. I'm talented in so many other areas of life. You have an expiration date as a fighter - if this is all you know how to do, I hope you're saving.

"The 'Bronze Bomber' is well alive. He's back. The fire has been relit. I fell out of love with it at one point in time, but I'm back in love with it again.

"I got back into being a gym rat, making this a job again. Once you get a certain success, it just becomes a thing you do. I went back to being a student of the game."

Oleksandr Usyk is the man he will need to dethrone in order to win all the marbles, though that fight looks a long way off.

In December, Usyk and Fury will contest a rematch of their undisputed title fight earlier this month, which the Ukrainian won by split decision.

Elsewhere, Filip Hrgovic is No. 1 contender for the IBF title which Usyk looks set to vacate. If the Croatian can beat Daniel Dubois - also on this weekend's Saudi Arabian card, live on TNT Sports Box Office - he will be due a date with Anthony Joshua for the vacant title.

Joshua, then, could be on Wilder's roadmap. Though a fight between the pair was once the most hotly-anticipated matchup in boxing, it never materialised due to faltering negotiations between promoters.

Now, the Alabaman has signed a deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom ahead of the 5 v 5, meaning he and Joshua sit under the same promoter.

On that move, Wilder added: "I ain't winning for Eddie Hearn - I'm winning for myself, my children, my legacy.

"Boxing is not a team sport, it's an individual business. But as a group, I'm winning for the team - we can go undefeated as five individuals, blow the other team out of the water.

"I'm excited to be captain of the team, and working with Eddie. We had a lot of collisions, but time brings about a change. We'll see what changes after this."

Zhang - who impressively handed Joe Joyce the first two losses of his career, before the Parker upset - will meet Wilder in a collision of pure power.

Wilder said of his opponent: "I can't get his personality due to the language barrier, but to be amongst him, he seems real calm and collected.

"He seems like a pretty cool guy - a guy I would hang out with outside of boxing. I like his fighting style as well. I really like him, I really respect him.

"I like these challenges, these testers. When the fight came about, I felt it was a great opportunity to see where I am. It's a good tester to see who goes on."

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