Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang will clash in a heavyweight main event tonight, atop the novel Matchroom vs Queensberry card in Saudi Arabia.
Eddie Hearn has selected five boxers to take on five picked by Frank Warren, his rival promoter, and the teams will square off in Riyadh.
Joining Wilder on Hearn’s Matchroom team are: Filip Hrgovic, Austin “Ammo” Williams, Raymond Ford and Craig Richards. Representing Queensberry and Warren will be Daniel Dubois, Hamzah Sheeraz, Nick Ball and Willy Hutchinson.
Hrgovic faces Dubois for the IBF interim heavyweight title – and a money fight with Anthony Joshua in September – while Ford defends the WBA featherweight belt against Ball. Elsewhere on the card, it’s Williams vs Sheeraz and Richards vs Hutchinson.
And there’s one more bout, separate from the 5 vs 5, as Dmitry Bivol defends the WBA light-heavyweight title against Malik Zinad – who replaces the injured Artur Beterbiev. Follow live updates and results from the event, below.
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Zhang continues to press forward. He slips a cross nicely, but the next one lands for Wilder.
And another! All of a sudden the American is opening up here!
Zhang blocks a cross and lands one of his own.
A clubbing right hook lands for Wilder, but he’s countered by a right hook from Zhang and he’s out on his feet!!!
He spins around, and Zhang lands another right, which FOLD Wilder!!
He somehow beats the ref’s count, but it’s waved off! The American is staggering about!!
Queensberry 10-0 Matchroom!
Alex Pattle2 June 2024 01:27
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Zhang misses with a cross upstairs but digs a short right into the body.
Wilder thumps his chest, trying to fire himself up, after he recoils wildly under pressure from Zhang.
Zhang jabs to the midriff, and again, after Wilder overshoots with a straight.
A cross attempt from Wilder skids off Zhang’s forearm. Another comes up short.
Alex Pattle2 June 2024 01:23
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Wilder, backed up again, throws a cross to the body. He flicks out a few jabs, but he’s well out of range.
Zhang steps in with a decent southpaw cross. Wilder seems hesitant to commit to his right hand, in case he’s countered by “Big Bang”.
Wilder tests out a couple of crosses, but neither quite lands… Zhang with a left straight to the body, then one upstairs.
The Chinese heavyweight parries some teasing jabs from Wilder, who tries a left hook but to no avail.
Alex Pattle2 June 2024 01:19
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
An uppercut gets through for Zhang, and he senses a finish!!
He pours on hooks against Wilder, who’s trapped in the corner! Wilder is covering up, but some of these shots are getting through…
Eventually Wilder gets free and circles to his right, but how much damage did he absorb there?
He gets to the bell with some safety-first boxing. He looks very cautious.
Alex Pattle2 June 2024 01:16
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Zhang presses forward, pawing with his lead hand from his usual southpaw stance.
Wilder tries a few orthodox crosses throughout the round, but they’re wide and/or short each time.
A tentative start from both men.
Alex Pattle2 June 2024 01:15
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
One more fight: Deontay Wilder vs Zhilei Zhang.
Wilder is Matchroom’s captain, but even a knockout win and double points for the American can’t save Hearn now; it’s all over.
Can Zhang cap off a fine night for Queensberry with a win, though?
This should be a lot of fun, whichever way it goes. And it might be the last stand for whoever loses…
Heavyweight action incoming. The ring walks are underway.
Alex Pattle2 June 2024 01:00
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Jab upstairs, cross downstairs by Dubois. He’s getting right after Hrgovic, whose left eye is a TOTAL mess.
Dubois backs his old sparring partner up to the ropes, and launches a huge hook! Hrgovic’s defence has totally deserted him.
The referee, Howard Foster, has asked a ringside doctor to check Hrgovic’s cuts… The doctor whispers in the ref’s ear…
AND THE FIGHT IS WAVED OFF! DUBOIS GETS THE TKO!
Queensberry 8-0 Matchroom! There’s no way back for Matchroom, it’s all over!
Dubois hands Hrgovic his first ever pro loss and collects the IBF interim heavyweight title.
Anthony Joshua could be next for Dubois, at Wembley in September…
Alex Pattle2 June 2024 00:38
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Dubois steps in immediately with a jab and left hook – always a tidy little combination.
Hrgovic has long been cut over his right eye, but his left brow is also dripping blood now.
Dubois is pouring it on! Hrgovic looks so exhausted, like he could go down at any moment!
Two spiteful left hooks from Dubois. And a right hand! Hrgovic is barely standing…
Dubois is warned by the ref for leading with his head.
A big left hook from Dubois right on the bell!
Alex Pattle2 June 2024 00:35
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Both men look a little fatigued, and it’s showing in the technique of each heavyweight. Hrgovic and Dubois are frequently putting themselves off balance when they throw.
Good footwork by Dubois; he steps back, and again, to avoid Hrgovic’s output, then he fires back with well-timed jabs.
Hrgovic lands a short left cross now, though, at close range. Dubois grabs the Croatian and looks like he’s going for a double-leg takedown!
He lets go and pops off jabs. This has become a war of attrition.
Alex Pattle2 June 2024 00:31
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Dubois stalks Hrgovic. He lands a couple of nice jabs, but Hrgovic responds with a cross.
Dubois with a couple of his own right straights. A jab jolts back the head of Hrgovic.
Dubois strafes to his left and evades a cross, but Hrgovic eventually lands an uppercut, and Dubois holds.
They separate, and Hrgovic finds the mark with a mean cross and a grazing uppercut.
A wild end to the round, as both men throw caution to the wind and land a few overhand rights!
Alex Pattle2 June 2024 00:27