Two knockout specialists will look to return to winning ways when they meet in the middle of the boxing ring this Saturday. Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang headlines the extravagant Queensberry vs. Matchroom bill as they look to edge their promotions to victory. But that’s not the only mouthwatering fight on the card. The event is one of a kind, pitting the best against the best. Let’s dive into the event’s details.
It’s HE Turki Alalshikh‘s grand vision and the ambitious Riyadh Season that brought Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren to the same table. The two picked their absolute best and bundled their team with a good mix of skilled technicians and devastating knockout machines. So, when is the event taking place, and which venue is promising such thrilling action?
Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang: When should you tune in?
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Wilder and Zhang will exchange blows in the squared circle on June 1, this Saturday in the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh. It’s the same venue that hosted Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury recently and also welcomed Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou as they fought it out in March.
The ardent boxing fans can tune in at 12 p.m. ET if they are watching from the United States or 5 p.m. BST if they want to watch the action from the United Kingdom. But for Australian fans, it’s a long night, as they have to turn on their screens at 2 a.m. AEST (Sunday). But how do they have to pay for it and where?
How much do you have to shell out to watch the action?
The mega-event is available on DAZN, a long-time broadcast partner of Matchroom, which recently also roped in Queensberry. DAZN will stream the Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5×5 globally as a PPV. The American fans have to pay $69.99, an amount identical to what they paid for Usyk vs. Fury.
Meanwhile, the prices are relatively cheaper in the English lands as the PPV is available at £21.99 to them. The Australian fans are also in a similar boat. The PPV costs them 34.99 AUD. This begs the question. Is the 5×5 event worth the money that fans will spill? Let’s have a look at the card that they are offering.
The stacked undercard: high stakes, titles, and careers on the line
Zhilei Zhang vs. Deontay Wilder (Heavyweight)
The headliner is a power-packed fight, with both boxers coming off a loss to Joseph Parker and trying to have a last hurrah and a shot at the gold. While ‘The Bronze Bomber’ had an unusual outing against Parker, ‘Big Bang’ failed to close the fight despite flooring Parker in the third round. Wilder, 39, has disclosed his desire to hang up his gloves if he fails to return to the winner’s column against Zhang. Will we see a modern great bow out with a loss? It remains to be seen.
Daniel Dubois vs. Filip Hrgovic (Heavyweight)
The co-main event comes with a flavor of old tensions, heated rivalry, and a golden opportunity. The two met in a sparring session some years ago, and the rumors of Hrgovic, 31, handing a beating to Dubois, 26, made waves. It continues to do so today. Moreover, the winner of their fight is well positioned to be the next IBF heavyweight champion, as the sanctioning body is pondering about stripping Usyk. And then the winner will also set up a blockbuster fight with ‘AJ’ at Wembley in September. You shouldn’t be surprised if this fight gives us a future heavyweight star.
Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Austin Williams (Middleweight)
A lot is riding on Queensberry captain Sheeraz, 25, to give his promotion a win and also protect his undefeated record against Williams. This is his litmus test, as this is the first time he is facing a world-class-level opponent. Meanwhile, William, at 16-0, has a zero to protect of his own. But both fighters have a fan-friendly style and have a knack for knockouts. So, the fight has carnage and violence written all over it. Whoever wins will rise in the ranks and challenge for the title soon.
Dmitry Bivol vs. Malik Zinad (For the WBA light heavyweight title)
Bivol, 33, finds himself pushed to the undercard after Artur Betebiev pulled out of the fight. He has decided to keep himself busy and active so that he can jump straight to the unification fight when it comes his way. The Russian boxer has offered a fair tale opportunity to Zinad, from who the boxing world has no expectations. The Libyan boxer has power, uses jabs well, and has all the tools to trouble the champion. Can he rise to the occasion and cause an upset? We’ll soon find out.
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Raymond Ford vs. Nick Ball (For the WBA featherweight title)
Ford, 25, showed heart when he scored a knockout win against Otabek Kholmatov in the dying seconds of the 12th round and bagged the title. He faces Ball, 27, who is coming off a close point decision loss, which many believed he won. The two boxers have shown heart and a never-call-quit attitude, and the same will be on display this Saturday.
Willy Hutchinson vs. Craig Richards (Light heavyweight)
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Hutchinson, 25, will continue to march on as one of the hottest prospects to ever hail from Scotland. He has been on a roll since suffering a defeat to Lennox Clarke and has bounced back strongly with 4 KO wins. He welcomes Richards to the boxing ring, who is coming off a two-year layoff and has endured a mixed patch in recent years. It’s the perfect opportunity for ‘Braveheart’ to polish his game and get a taste of the top fighters before he challenges the best.
What do you make of this coming fight event headlined by Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang? Do you think the event will be a commercial success and shake up divisions? Let us know in the comments below.