Boxing has always been considered the quietest sport. Going to war on your own is a daily reality but in a unique twist there, a dynamic team will be played in the Matchroom vs. Queensberry ‘5 vs. 5’ showcase.
A year ago, the mere suggestion of Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren collaborating to put together one of the biggest shows of the year would have you laughing out of the room. For decades, disdain has been as genuine as anything in the ring. The biggest powerbroker in British boxing refused to do business straight away, as the long-time rival carried out fierce and often vindictive acts in interviews and on social media almost every week.
The presence of Turki Alalshikh, who drives Saudi Arabia’s influence in boxing, has helped to heal the old wounds, bringing two old enemies together and presenting the concept of ‘5 vs 5’ earlier this year.
It’s a simple idea; Hearn’s five best Matchroom fighters go up against Warren’s five finest from Queensberry Promotions. With team captains and a points system in place, it’s an exciting, fresh format that gives one of the world’s oldest sports something new to work with.
Hearn has handed over the Matchroom captaincy to his latest acquisition in Deontay Wilder, brought in specifically for this card to fight Chinese heavyweight star Zhilei Zhang. Continuing the trend of old enemies becoming friends, after Hearn and Wilder spent years tearing each other apart, each time accusing the other of being responsible for the fight with Anthony Joshua never taking place.
At the other end of the scale for Wilder is Craig Richards, who will represent Matchroom in the light-heavyweight up against Willie Hutchinson. While Wilder’s presence in Matchroom is new and sure to be a short one, Richards’ represents years of loyalty and a long-standing relationship between him and Hearn, dating back to his professional debut nine years ago.
‘I’m one of the original Matchroom, of course,’ Richards said Metro.co.uk.
‘When I first became a professional, I had no amateur pedigree, I didn’t know if I would get a TV contract. There was an opportunity and Eddie said he would have a look at me so I got my debut in one of the shows just by chance. I went out and got a KO. I keep getting invited back.’
Matchroom vs Queensberry 5 vs 5 series
Deontay Wilder (Matchroom) vs Zhilei Zhang (Queensberry)
Filip Hrgovic (Matchroom) vs Daniel Dubois (Queensberry)
Ray Ford (Matchroom) vs Nick Ball (Queensberry)
Austin Williams (Matchroom) vs Hamzah Sheeraz (Queensberry)
Craig Richards (Matchroom) vs Willy Hutchinson (Queensberry)
The Crystal Palace strugglers are part of a division awash with big domestic dust, having taken on their stable mate Joshua Buatsi in an interesting south London derby two years ago.
Richards has come up the hard way in many respects, fighting in a small hall shows a world away from the Saudi glamor on a previous night in his career. But he has remained in the world title conversation for years, with his performance against WBA champion Dmitry Bivol in 2021 ensuring his reputation remains intact.
Richards, who linked up with the new trainer Shane McGuigan earlier in the year, the value of loyalty and with promotional and personal relationships is more important than ever, fighting in the Matchroom team has extra resonance.
“As my career progressed, a lot of fights were make or break fights, fights where I had to prove myself,” he said. ‘I went from fighting to being in Matchroom, fighting to stay in Matchroom and now fighting for Matchroom. Progress has been crazy.
‘I grew up in loyalty and I know Eddie too. that’s where we have gelled well and why I got a chance. It’s important to me, in life in general, in business and in this sport.’
Like Richards, Hutchinson’s opponent has a long relationship with Warren’s promoter. The same goes for the rest of Queensberry’s team with Nick Ball, Hamzah Sheeraz and Daniel Dubois all promoted by the 72-year-old Londoner for most of his career – in Dubois’s case, since he turned professional.
Even for new recruits, there is pride in representing the team. ‘For me, boxing has always been an individual sport. But this time we fought as a team,’ Queensberry’s teammate Zhang said. ‘Win or lose, we are a team. So this concept definitely gives me extra power to fight for glory.’
Each man will ultimately go out to further his own career there but with Hearn and Warren roaring from the touchline, it will also be a team game.
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