I can’t wait to see the compubox numbers. Wilder might have thrown 20 all night long. He is getting dominated in activity by freaking Zhang. He’s going through the motions in what seems very likely to be the final fight of his career.

CHICAGO — There’s a common thread among successful people regardless of their field: An unshakable self-confidence that stems from an internal belief that their process prepares them to excel in the highest pressure situations.

“Here’s another intriguing fight in a whole series of 2024 interesting matchups. Two big old guys, two big punchers. This could go a number of ways, and I’m hoping its not a boring, plodding affair. My feeling is that it will go to the other side of the coin. It should provide tense, edge-of-the-seat stuff because of the thudding power each possesses. I would not be at all surprised to see each man knocked down in this one. Wilder looked like he was seriously deteriorating in the match against Parker, who boxed smartly. However, Parker has a whole different skillset than Zhang, so I don’t see the Chinese star being able to use the same strategy. In trying to visualize, I see both landing power shots, but Zhang better able to absorb, and eventually knocking out Wilder somewhere around the eighth round.”

The timing and choice of the tattoo sparked widespread speculation. His coach, Jeff Fenech, suggested to Fox Sports, the tattoo was more than aesthetics, hinting at Tyson’s reluctance to fight: “I thought we are fighting in a week, and when you get a tattoo, you can’t fight because they snap up and it wouldn’t be healthy to do that. We sat down and spoke, and he didn’t really want to fight and he wasn’t prepared to, and that was one of the reasons he got the tattoo.” The fight was even cancelled once, as his coaching team thought that his lack of conditioning could lead to him losing the fight. Yet, Tyson defied doubts, ended up fighting Clifford, decisively ending the bout with Etienne in a mere 49 seconds, showcasing his undiminished prowess.

In interviews, Tyson has described the tattoo as a “warrior mark” that signifies his readiness to face any challenge that comes his way. He sees it as a tribute to his own strength and determination, as well as a reflection of his deep respect for the warrior tradition that he feels a part of.

“Talk about a great pairing of nicknames — “The Bronze Bomber” versus “Big Bang” Zhang. This is a fight that demands a knockout ending, and according to the oddsmakers who have Zhang a slight favorite, one has the right to assume they’re most swayed by the difference in punch resistance that favors Zhang as well as Wilder’s dismal performance against common conqueror Joseph Parker, a man Zhang floored twice before losing on points. If Zhang lands his lethal left cross on Wilder’s chin, especially early, there will be no opportunity for Wilder to exploit Zhang’s biggest weakness, stamina. That’s what happened in the Joe Joyce rematch and the pick is that Zhang’s “Big Bang” will be enough to take out the “Bronze Bomber.”

A Los Angeles-area mansion that is owned by Reggie Bush was reportedly the target of a break-in on Tuesday night, and the former NFL star was home at the time. Police are investigating an attempted home invasion at a property…

Wilder has lost four of his past five fights, including a decision defeat to Joseph Parker in December along with a pair of losses to Tyson Fury in their heavyweight championship trilogy. Wilder said before the fight that if he lost, “this could be the final goodbye, the farewell of Deontay Wilder.”

In his 2013 autobiography Undisputed Truth, Tyson admitted to using the urine of his then wife Monica Turner to pass doping tests. He was married to Turner from 1997 to 2003. He also used his infant’s urine for the same purpose.

Jermell Charlo was the undisputed champion but has been stripped of all four of his titles as he hasn’t competed at 154 pounds since May 2022. That opened the door for Madrimov and Kurbanov to compete in their first title bout.

“This is a fight between two heavyweights that can really bang. Unlike Joseph Parker, Zhang will be much easier to find for 145 division boxing Wilder. There are clear pathways for his right hand to land versus the huge Chinese southpaw. But just as he did against Fury, he is facing a huge weight deficit, and if he gets pushed back, his right hand is that much less effective. If Zhang come in a bit lighter (and therefore a bit more mobile than he was in his last fight) I expect him to put Wilder on the back foot and eventually stop Wilder in the seventh or eighth round. Wilder is still somewhat dangerous, but I wonder if he has his legs underneath him.”

10:12pm BST/6:12pm ET: Mayer gets it by margins of 100-90, 98-92 and 98-91. It’s a comfortable win in the end but she felt far too open to hooks, something Alycia Baumgardner certainly noticed. On the other hand, a late replacement on 24-hour’s notice is never the best way to judge where someone is at. Mayer certainly looks strong at the weight and there will be big nights ahead. Wildheart should certainly also get some more outings on TV cards after a fine against-the-odds showing.