BATTLE ROYAL

Wave goodbye is long way off says Wilder

- CHRIS MCKENN

DEONTAY WILDER was warming up for one of his final sessions ahead of his fight this weekend when he stopped to pretend he was waving goodbye. 

“Like a queen does,” he said, as he mocked gesturing to a crowd like royalty would.

Wilder, 38, was talking about what could happen if he loses against veteran Chinese star Zhilei Zhang, 41, (inset) in Riyadh on Saturday night.

“This is the be-all and end-all fight,” the American said.

“Whoever wins this one, they go forward and the loser goes back to the lab to pick up the pieces and must decide whether or not to retire.

“I’ve been very successful inside and outside of the ring. If all things go wrong, I could be holding my hand up like a queen and saying farewell.

“The only sad thing is for the fans. I keep the heavyweight division exciting and to not have me in it would be boring.