BoxRec

Deontay Wilder vs Zhilei Zhang leads Matchroom vs Queensberry 5 Vs 5 on June 1st

Daniel Dubois vs Filip Hrgovic, Raymond Ford vs Nick Ball, Hamzah Sheeraz vs Austin Williams, Craig Richards vs Willy Hutchinson round out the undercard

After officially announcing Dmitry Bivol vs Artur Beterbiev for the undipsuted light heavyweight title on June 1st and Riyadh, allegedly and Eddie Hearn took the stage with 10 masked pugilists to steadily reveal the lineup for their long-brewing 5 Vs 5 showdown.



First came Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19 KO), who battles Matchroom’s Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KO) in the first of two heavyweight showdowns. There’s a real chance this could turn into a title bout before fight night; Hrgovic is the IBF mandatory challenger and Dubois is no. 4, so if the winner of Usyk vs Fury vacates to honor the rematch clause, there’s no reason not to sanction it.

Down at 126, Raymond Ford (15-0-1, 8 KO) makes the first defense of his newly acquired WBA title against Queensberry’s Nick Ball (19-0-1, 11 KO), whom Eddie Hearn inadvertently named early while hyping up Dubois vs Hrgovic. Ford, fresh off of shocking Otabek Kholmatov in the final seconds, was previously expected to vacate the belt and move to 130, but will instead give Ball another shot at the big time after falling agonizingly short against Rey Vargas.

At 160, Hamzah Sheeraz (19-0, 15 KO) carries the Queensberry flag against Austin “Ammo” Williams (16-0, 11 KO). Both enjoy top-five spots in multiple sanctioning bodies’ rankings and should make for a quality scrap.

15 pounds north, Matchroom calls upon Craig Richards (18-3-1, 11 KO) to fight Willy Hutchinson (17-1, 13 KO), breaking Scott’s three-for-three prediction streak. Richards is 2-2 in his last four, but gave solid accounts of himself against both Bivol and Joshua Buatsi, while the 25-year-old Hutchinson is 4-0 with four finishes since falling to Lennox Clarke in 2021.

As for the wildcard heavyweight pick, Zhang Zhilei (26-2-1, 21 KO) reps Queensberry against Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KO). Even with their recent defeats, I don’t need to sell you on this one; it might as well be a sanctioned pistol duel.

Rather than just do best of five, each fight gives the winning promoter two points for a finish or one point for a decision, with the captains (Sheeraz and Wilder) receiving double points.

Gotta say, this is a damn good card!

So good isn't it!

Is this definitely PPV?

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑17 Apr 2024, 12:27 Is this definitely PPV?

No mention of it yet.

I see Dazn on the poster behind the promoters but no TNT sports.

JamesPhilips wrote: ↑17 Apr 2024, 12:27 Is this definitely PPV?

We’ll find out soon

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑17 Apr 2024, 03:58

nice to see that fwank and ed let their gimps outta the dungeon for a bit

margaret thatcher wrote: ↑17 Apr 2024, 14:01

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑17 Apr 2024, 03:58

nice to see that fwank and ed let their gimps outta the dungeon for a bit

A poster with Frank and Ed. Surprised they not taking a dump

Well, at first glance this looks one of the most intriguing fights on a terrific card for me. Two big prospects and their managers would normally run a mile from a crossroads matchup like this, in normal times.

Great fight, and way down on the undercard no less..

I’ve only seen some of Williams, but he look pretty impressive and Eddie certainly thinks he is, signing him up from the American talent pool. I think he was gunning for the cash fight not long ago..

And Sheeraz looks a potential world beater too.

But is the American overrated? I see the bookies are making the Brit a firm favourite here. I guess they’re giving it to him for his height and reach.

What does everyone reckon?

Fight Week!!

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑27 May 2024, 02:48 Well, at first glance this looks one of the most intriguing fights on a terrific card for me. Two big prospects and their managers would normally run a mile from a crossroads matchup like this, in normal times.

Great fight, and way down on the undercard no less..

I’ve only seen some of Williams, but he look pretty impressive and Eddie certainly thinks he is, signing him up from the American talent pool. I think he was gunning for the cash fight not long ago..

And Sheeraz looks a potential world beater too.

But is the American overrated? I see the bookies are making the Brit a firm favourite here. I guess they’re giving it to him for his height and reach.

What does everyone reckon?

I think it's an extremely close fight, both heavy hitters. I'm leaning towards Sheeraz in a tight decision.

tanzeel117 wrote: ↑28 May 2024, 17:05

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑27 May 2024, 02:48 Well, at first glance this looks one of the most intriguing fights on a terrific card for me. Two big prospects and their managers would normally run a mile from a crossroads matchup like this, in normal times.

Great fight, and way down on the undercard no less..

I’ve only seen some of Williams, but he look pretty impressive and Eddie certainly thinks he is, signing him up from the American talent pool. I think he was gunning for the cash fight not long ago..

And Sheeraz looks a potential world beater too.

But is the American overrated? I see the bookies are making the Brit a firm favourite here. I guess they’re giving it to him for his height and reach.

What does everyone reckon?

I think it's an extremely close fight, both heavy hitters. I'm leaning towards Sheeraz in a tight decision.

me too, Sheeraz is really talented

Fight Night!!

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑27 May 2024, 02:48And Sheeraz looks a potential world beater too.

Let me be devil's advocate for a minute. Sheeraz has a poor amateur background, was outboxed by Bradley Skeete, who was never any good and was ready to retire, and was dropped by an absolute nobody who trained by himself in his own garden and was also ready to retire. He only has six rounds on a low level against a southpaw. The warning signs are all there.

Heldenjaeger wrote: ↑01 Jun 2024, 06:06

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑27 May 2024, 02:48And Sheeraz looks a potential world beater too.

Let me be devil's advocate for a minute. Sheeraz has a poor amateur background, was outboxed by Bradley Skeete, who was never any good and was ready to retire, and was dropped by an absolute nobody who trained by himself in his own garden and was also ready to retire. He only has six rounds on a low level against a southpaw. The warning signs are all there.

I’m with you that Sheeraz is not what he’s made out to be but to say Skeete was never no good is just bollocks, he was a very good boxer. I do hope Williams batters Sheeraz though

smiling assassin wrote: ↑01 Jun 2024, 06:17I’m with you that Sheeraz is not what he’s made out to be but to say Skeete was never no good is just bollocks, he was a very good boxer. I do hope Williams batters Sheeraz though

I was just playing devil's advocate a little bit. Skeete was a good British level boxer four to five years before he was put in with Sheeraz.

Sheeraz looked really drawn at the weigh in. he always does but looks so tall for a middle. According to Boxrec he’s only 3 inches taller than Williams but looks about 5 or 6 inches bigger. He looks like a highlight reel knockout at some point. Don’t know if Williams I’d the one though.

Heldenjaeger wrote: ↑01 Jun 2024, 06:06

MightyWarrior wrote: ↑27 May 2024, 02:48And Sheeraz looks a potential world beater too.

Let me be devil's advocate for a minute. Sheeraz has a poor amateur background, was outboxed by Bradley Skeete, who was never any good and was ready to retire, and was dropped by an absolute nobody who trained by himself in his own garden and was also ready to retire. He only has six rounds on a low level against a southpaw. The warning signs are all there.

Sure, can’t really argue with that, he’s no doubt in the will he won’t he category. He’s definitely looked the part, and let’s face it, It doesn’t take a huge jump to win a world title these days: the way the old Frank can just magic up a vacant title shot at the drop of a hat.

I’m picking William here, not with any great conviction, but I think he might find out the Berkshire basher, we’ll soon find out. Though I would like to see Sheeraz win.

Literally never seen Hamzah fight. That’s where I am with boxing

sheeraz vs eurbanks please

stevec@france wrote: ↑02 Jun 2024, 04:56 sheeraz vs eurbanks please

Think he's alluded to it in a post fight interview

Really strong performance from Sheeraz

Good win for Sheeraz but he looks a bit tentative against decent level opposition, definitely a boxer rather than a fighter and I think he will get ironed out sooner rather than later.

dr_devious wrote: ↑02 Jun 2024, 16:40 Good win for Sheeraz but he looks a bit tentative against decent level opposition, definitely a boxer rather than a fighter and I think he will get ironed out sooner rather than later.

we shall see, that fight has got him some good ranking body elevations.

dr_devious wrote: ↑02 Jun 2024, 16:40 Good win for Sheeraz but he looks a bit tentative against decent level opposition, definitely a boxer rather than a fighter and I think he will get ironed out sooner rather than later.

sheeraz still learning and developing - williams was easily the toughest challenge so far .
I sensed the plan was to not get into a fire fight but to box clever and get rounds and if need be win on points .

he got caught in the 2nd when he lost shape and recovered well .

A lot of big nights ahead for him .