Frank Warren Cautions Eddie Hearn of Coming “War” for Their 5 vs. 5 Fight Card

Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn’s closeness with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia underscores where boxing is headed at the moment. When the two rival promoters worked on the same page to make the ‘Day of Reckoning’ a grand success, they set a friendly premise. After which, HE Turki Alalshikh flipped the cordial premise and called for them to compete against each other. Taking on the challenge, Warren has now vowed to bring “war” against Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

On 1st June, Warren’s Queensberry Promotions will bring five fighters from its stables against Hearn’s 5 marquee boxers for the historic 5 vs. 5 – Matchroom vs. Queensberry event in Riyadh. While slowly details of this card emerge, both promoters have made it their mission to let the other know what they are bringing to the table. According to Frank Warren, his team will be filled to the brim with “a winning mentality.”

Frank Warren isn’t showing up just to make the numbers

Soon after the weight divisions for the tournament were announced, the 72-year-old promoter made an appearance on Boxing News. In the interview, he spoke vividly about how his team is bracing for the anticipated showdown. Speaking about the cordial relationship they have built in the past going out of the window in the lead-up to the event, the veteran promoter noted, “We’re going to smash the windows. Don’t worry about that. I mean this is war. I’m serious. We want to win this…nobody’s showing up to make up the numbers.”

Warren further declared, “We’re there to win this. We’re going to make sure that our best fighters are in there and our team will be going in there as a team. No one’s gonna wanna let the team down. Nobody. So it’s going to be a winning mentality for my guys. They’ve got a winner’s mentality.”

For years, the two leading promoters of the United Kingdom have never seen eye-to-eye, outlining a deep sense of hostility not just between them but between their clan of boxers. While the June 1st fight might be a big deal for the sport of boxing in general, the kingpins are looking at it from a more contentious lens. At the end of the night, the promoter whose team has the most wins in its corner emerges the victor over the other.

With little over two months left for the big entertainer, the organizers have started jotting down particulars of how the tournament will go down. Some details of it have emerged, and it seems like Saudi Arabia is stacking yet another exciting card.

What’s on the 5 vs. 5 card?

The 5 vs. 5 card was stipulated on the understanding that each promoter would choose the 5 best fighters from their stables and pit them against the opponent’s stable. To make it a bit more interesting, fair, and competitive, it was also decided that both Warren and Hearn would determine 2 weight classes each for the card, while His Excellency Turki Alalshikh would announce the fifth.

In fresh updates, details of this have emerged. As per reports, Frank Warren has voted for a clash between heavyweights and middleweights. Hearn has called for a clash of featherweights and light heavyweights, respectively. Turki Alalshikh, on the other hand, has sought yet another heavyweight clash.

Interestingly, His Excellency has also placed a wildcard for the promoters to use. They each can now choose a fighter who is not signed to either promotion.

Which fighter from each clan would you like to see on this card? Take your picks in the comments section below.

Also Read: “One Sided Win”: HE Turki Alalshikh Announces Queensberry-Matchroom 5 vs. 5 Weight Classes; Fans Share Their Prediction