1) Frank Warren knows what he is doing
No matter your opinion of Frank Warren, it’s undeniable that he has a remarkable talent for staying in the game and strategically choosing his battles. While any victory over his major rival Eddie Hearn would have been seen as a triumph for the experienced promoter, completely dominating him with a 5-0 win sends a powerful statement.
2) Rule Britannia
Despite nationality being of little significance in the context of what was truly at stake in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, it was still heartening to witness four out of the five winners originating from the British Isles. The exceptional performances delivered by Willy Hutchinson, Nick Ball, Hamzah Sheeraz, and Daniel Dubois provided a temporary respite from concerns regarding the future of British boxing.
3) Dead atmosphere
It is evident that in the present era, events taking place in the Middle East suffer from a significant drawback – the absence of an engaging atmosphere, even during captivating fights. This was once again evident on Saturday, as spectators witnessed five closely contested matches in complete silence.
4) Sheeraz could be British Fighter of the Year
Although there is still a considerable journey ahead, he remains optimistic about competing at least one more time before the year concludes. However, it is worth acknowledging that Hamzah Sheeraz has already established himself as one of the top British fighters in 2024. In February, he impressively defeated Liam Williams, who was regarded as a challenging opponent, in a mere round. Moreover, on Saturday, he dominated Austin Williams, an undefeated American fighter, for 11 rounds.
5) Daniel Dubois deserves credit
Daniel Dubois appeared to be on the verge of a quick defeat against Filip Hrgovic as he failed to dodge his opponent’s right hand in the early stages of their fight. Despite this, Dubois managed to endure the onslaught and regroup, taking advantage of Hrgovic’s exhaustion to eventually dominate the match and secure a cuts stoppage victory in the eighth round. This triumph showcased Dubois’ previously questioned qualities that he was said to lack.
6) Nick Ball will always entertain
No matter how you tallied the points after 12 rounds, it is undeniable that Ray Ford and Nick Ball exceeded our expectations. Their performance was as impressive as we anticipated. Moreover, by winning Ford’s WBA featherweight title, Ball has the opportunity to gain a considerable fanbase in Liverpool thanks to his thrilling style.
Nick Ball
7) Sixty-eight pounds is a lot
A few of us were at fault for supporting Deontay Wilder over Zhilei Zhang solely due to his exceptional punching ability, his renowned reputation, and our recollections of his previous fights where he turned the tables with a single strike. However, as both Wilder and Zhang stepped onto the scales on Friday, unveiling a staggering weight disparity of 68 pounds, it became increasingly difficult to envision a situation in which Wilder could make any significant impact on Zhang, let alone knock him out.
8) Zhang is smart
Although it was disheartening to witness Deontay Wilder’s hesitancy and subsequent defeat, it is essential to acknowledge the impressive execution of Zhilei Zhang’s counter right hook in the fifth round, which ultimately led to Wilder’s downfall. Despite Wilder’s earlier dominance, Zhang’s finishing move in this bout helped rectify some of the criticism he faced after failing to defeat Joseph Parker in March.
9) Hutchinson is a young man
Willy Hutchinson started the night with a convincing victory over Craig Richards, which he celebrated with great enthusiasm. During his post-fight interview, Hutchinson repeatedly emphasized his young age, highlighting it as a significant aspect for him. Along with his triumph, he also jokingly mentioned his attractive appearance and even imitated Tyson Fury. It’s worth noting that Hutchinson will turn 26 in August.
10) We need more
Instead of considering the “5 v 5” concept as just a unique occurrence, it would be wonderful to envision future events of the same nature, possibly becoming a regular fixture on the boxing calendar, maybe even an annual tradition. It would be even more exciting if these events were held in different regions, going beyond the Middle East, especially if they involved British or American boxers who truly deserve the support of their home fans.
