Deontay Wilder claims 'killer' is back ahead of Zhilei Zhang clash on Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev undercard

25/04/2024 18:56

Deontay Wilder insists he is ready to reignite the ‘killer’ within ahead of his upcoming clash with Zhilei Zhang.

The American slugger looked like a shadow of his former self the last time he stepped between the ropes against Joseph Parker in December.

Wilder appeared hesitant to let his big right hand go as he was battered from pillar to post by the Kiwi before falling to a one-sided unanimous decision defeat.

His dismal display left a lot to be desired and led to suggestions that he had lost the fire in his belly.

But Wilder is aiming to revise that narrative when he makes his return to the ring on the Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev undercard on June 1.

"They [media and authorities] said how I wasn't so good for boxing because I wanted a body on my record," Wilder told Boxing News.

"But now you get these people, the Saudis, involved and they said, 'We want that monster back, we want that killer back, we want the man who speaks like that'.

“And when you have people like that who appreciate you for what that is, it makes you want to change back quickly.

"I've got the green light that I can be that and not be judged. I can be that and not be crucified.

“When I did it earlier everybody crucified me, stuck me with thorns and stabbed me."

Wilder came under immense criticism in 2018 when he declared that he wanted ‘a body on his record’ before his inaugural encounter with Tyson Fury.

It was comments like that which led to him being sold as the ‘bad guy’ of the glamour division.

But in recent years, Wilder has significantly mellowed down having, in his own words, ‘found peace’.

Before his last outing against Parker, Wilder spoke openly about how he had been ‘reborn’ after going through a psychedelic drug programme in Costa Rica, where he took ayahuasca, a South American psychoactive brew.

Although he appeared happier, Wilder admitted he had lost his ‘killer instinct’ in the process of becoming a more peaceful person.

"I've got to find my killer instinct back,” he told 78SPORTSTV in the immediate aftermath of his loss to Parker.

“I'm too at peace; I'm too happy. When I had that dog in me, nobody had a chance. I will be a two-time heavyweight world champion.”

Wilder’s fight with Zhang is the feature attraction of the unprecedented 5v5 event.

Bivol and Beterbiev are headlining the bill while Daniel Dubois vs Filip Hrgovic, Hamzah Sheeraz vs Ammo Williams, Nick Ball vs Ray Ford, Willy Hutchinson vs Craig Richards feature on the undercard.