Deontay Wilder and Zhang Zilei will clash in the heavyweight main event of a new card, Matchroom vs Queensberry, in Saudi Arabia tonight.
Eddie Hearn has selected five boxers to face five others selected by rival promoter Frank Warren, with the two teams set to meet in Riyadh.
Hearn's Matchroom team includes Wilder, Filip Hrgovic, Austin “Amo” Williams, Raymond Ford and Craig Richards, while Queensberry and Warren will be joined by Daniel Dubois, Hamza Sheeraz, Nick Ball and Willie Hutchinson.
Hrgovic faces Dubois for the IBF interim heavyweight title and has a money fight scheduled against Anthony Joshua in September, while Ford defends his WBA featherweight belt against Ball. Other bouts on the card include Williams vs. Sheilas and Richards vs. Hutchinson.
And apart from the 5-on-5, there is another bout on the schedule where Dmitry Bivol will defend his WBA light heavyweight title against Malik Zinad, who is filling in for the injured Artur Beterbiev. Check out live updates and results from the event below:
Wilder vs. Chang LIVE: Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight card updates
Another good right cross from Hutchinson lands! Richards lands a left hook.
A battle of jabs continues with Hutchinson being the more skilled fighter.
Hutchinson again puts Richards under pressure, backing the Londoner into the corner! Richards holds his ground. The boxers separate and Hutchinson lands a right hook to the body.
This time Hutchinson dodged Richards' attack and landed a left hook to the body.
Alex PattleJune 1, 2024 19:50
Wilder vs. Chang LIVE: Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight card updates
Richards again comes forward despite struggling in the final round.
Hutchinson switches to southpaw and lands a jab to the body, backing up to the ropes and staying very fluid.
Moving forward and off the ropes, he lands another clean right hand! There's a clinch and Hutchinson has Richards on his hands. another At the moment it breaks…
Richards again goes for the back of the jab but needs more power, and with Hutchinson looking orthodox for now, Richards lands on the end of a left hook.
Hutchinson got a little more flashy late in the round.
Alex PattleJune 1, 2024 19:46
Wilder vs. Chang LIVE: Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight card updates
Hutchinson is orthodox for now. Richards lands a jab to the body. Hutchinson lands a couple of hooks and charges in. Richards defends.
Richards blocks it but is slightly off balance. Hutchinson switches back to southpaw. Richards lands another body jab.
Hutchinson responds similarly, then reverts to his orthodox approach.
Two big crosses from Hutchinson land! Richards backs away. Trying to get behind the jab. Unsettling situation for Hearn's opponent.
Alex PattleJune 1, 2024 19:41
Wilder vs. Chang LIVE: Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight card updates
Hutchinson remains southpaw for now, landing some hard jabs to the body.
He switches back and catches Richards with a left hook in the corner and a cross, landing cleaner than last time.
He's landing combinations again, but Richards looks a little vulnerable for now.
Hutchinson leans back to avoid a right cross from the Londoner, and when Richards steps forward, Hutchinson narrowly misses a counter left hook.
Alex PattleJune 1, 2024 19:38
Wilder vs. Chang LIVE: Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight card updates
Both fighters were in orthodox stances, but Richards was the more aggressive in the early stages, using his jab to keep himself in the center of the ring.
Hutchinson closed the distance with a left hook and a right cross, both punches just barely landing as Richards was forced into the corner.
Richards circles around and lures Hutchinson into the jab, which was the best weapon of the round for both men, but a Hutchinson one-two in the corner looked pretty good.
Later in the round, Hutchinson switched to southpaw.
Alex PattleJune 1, 2024 19:33
Wilder vs. Chang LIVE: Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight card updates
The card kicks off with Craig “Spider” Richards vs. Willie Hutchinson!
The bout is in the light heavyweight division and is scheduled for 12 rounds. The vacant WBC silver belt is on the line.
Richards represents Matchroom while Hutchinson represents Queensberry.
Richards, from London, has 18 wins, 3 losses and 1 draw (11 KOs), while Hutchinson, from Scotland, has 17 wins and 1 loss (13 KOs).
Alex PattleJune 1, 2024 19:28
Wilder vs. Chang LIVE: Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight card updates
Things to remember VI Tonight's bouts. Besides the 5-on-5, we have Dmitry Bivol defending his WBA light heavyweight belt against Malik Zinad.
The unbeaten Bivol was scheduled to face fellow unbeaten Artur Beterbiev in a highly anticipated full-on showdown, but the unified champion recently suffered an injury.
So Bivol is fighting Zinad here to keep himself busy, with the bout with Beterbiev scheduled for later this year – hopefully!
Alex PattleJune 1, 2024 19:21
Wilder vs. Chang LIVE: Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight card updates
We spoke to Dubois at his London gym ahead of tonight's co-main event between Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois.
The full interview is below: Here is an excerpt…
It is said that you can tell a lot about a person by their handshake. Daniel DuboisIn the case of , it's more of a decoy.
From the way he greeted me gently, I inferred that he had very real concerns that if he applied a little more force he might shatter my bones, so I accepted a polite and cautious handshake in between his leaps and shadowboxing.
Contrary to what the handshake might suggest, those giant fists, those blunt instruments, have delivered plenty of blows in the British heavyweight's young career. “I don't like to take too much pleasure in it, but I'm enjoying it,” Dubois said when asked if he was actively savouring it. He knocked out 19 of the 22 pro fighters he shared the ring with..
“For me, it's just business right now. This is my job. I want to be the best in this sport. I love this sport, but I don't know which way it's going to go. This isn't scripted. You have to write your own script.”
Alex PattleJune 1, 2024 18:40
Wilder vs. Chang LIVE: Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight card updates
• Each boxer receives one point for a decision win and two points for a knockout.
• No points are awarded in the event of a draw.
The captains (Matchroom's Wilder and Queensberry's Sheilas) will receive double individual points.
• The team with the highest overall score wins.
• According to Give Me Sports, the winning team will receive a total prize pool of $3 million, although individual prize amounts have not been disclosed.
Alex PattleJune 1, 2024 18:20
Wilder vs. Chang LIVE: Matchroom vs. Queensberry fight card updates
Wilder – 5/4; Chang – 4/6; Draw – 16/1
Hrgovic – 2/5; Dubois – 2/1; Draw – 16/1
Bivol – 1/33; Zinad – 11/1; Draw – 20/1
Alex PattleJune 1, 2024 18:00