The bout, which had been billed as a "loser leaves town" match, saw both fighters carefully navigate the early rounds, aware of the high stakes.

Both Deontay Wilder and Zhlei Zhang possess the kind of power and accuracy that can end a fight with a single shot.

"This is my last chance," confessed the emotional Wilder, aged 38, acknowledging the stakes of his upcoming bout. "We'll see if I've got it or not."