It remains peculiar yet delightful to witness Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn standing side by side, even after five months have passed since their initial encounter. It is now evident why they have joined forces, but one cannot help but ponder what could have been if they had not delayed their collaboration for so long.
This week, a flashy and extravagant five-minute trailer was unveiled to promote the lesser-known matches in a boxing event headlined by Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol in Saudi Arabia on June 1st. Clearly inspired by the stylings of filmmaker Guy Ritchie, who himself drew inspiration from boxing promoter Frank Warren, the teaser for the 5 v 5 match is a cinematic spectacle that will be difficult to ignore.
The concept of 5 v 5 was originally proposed by Turki Alalshikh and, like all great ideas, it is remarkably simple. The idea involves five fighters from Queensberry stable competing against five fighters from Matchroom stable. This concept is so logical that not too long ago, the idea would have been dismissed as highly unlikely due to the rivalry between these promoters. Less than 12 months ago, the closest Frank and Eddie came to appearing together was when one of them was invited to criticize the other in a YouTube video.
The trailer, which starts with Frank and Eddie in a darkened room laying their cards on the table, concludes with Warren – who could now consider a side hustle in acting, ala Vinnie Jones – growling, “June 1st, make sure your mob are there.”
We shouldn’t overlook the fact that Warren had advocated for this well before Alalshikh implemented it. During the chaotic summer of 2020, when the coronavirus was wreaking havoc, our front page headline read ‘Unite’ as Queensberry reached out to Matchroom, offering collaboration to revive the sport that was deeply impacted by the pandemic. Hearn, skeptical of his competitor’s intentions, appeared less enthusiastic, and even a suggested coffee meeting failed to materialize.
We find ourselves here, just shy of four years later, and it’s as if someone has mixed an acid tab into my morning beverage. The whole situation feels incredibly surreal, undeniably wild, and it leaves us pondering when this journey will finally conclude and how profoundly it will impact us once it does.
However, currently, it is nearly unavoidable to participate in the party. The reason being, these fights and Alalshikh’s philosophies are precisely what fans have been longing for: evenly matched fights throughout, the best competing against the best, with the sanctioning bodies being of little importance.
Watching the main event is a compelling reason in itself. The matchup between Beterbiev and Bivol is an exciting showdown between two highly skilled fighters. This fight has been on our radar for a while, and it seemed like it would never come to fruition.
The undercard offers a plethora of significant matchups. In the heavyweight division, we witness the debut of Deontay Wilder at the age of 38 under the Matchroom banner, as he faces Zhilhei Zhang. It’s ironic to note that Matchroom, when they had limited financial resources, attempted unsuccessfully to arrange a fight between Wilder and Anthony Joshua for what seemed like an eternity. Additionally, Daniel Dubois, a steadfast fighter from Queensberry, will go up against the undefeated Filip Hrgovic in the same weight class.
Before we go any further, lets add some context to those three matchups. In the TBRB and BN world rankings, Beterbiev is the champion at light-heavyweight and Bivol is ranked number one. At heavyweight, Zhang is fifth while Wilder is 10th and Hrgovic is fourth compared to Dubois’ ninth.
In the middleweight division, Hamzah Sheeraz (Queensberry) ranked number 10, is scheduled to face Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, who holds the ninth spot. A highly anticipated matchup on the undercard showcases two prized possessions of the promoters, Warren’s Nick Ball (ranked three) and Hearn’s Ray Ford (ranked seven), who will compete in a featherweight contest brimming with excitement. Additionally, the event includes a bout between two British fighters on the outskirts of the 175lbs rankings, as Matchroom’s Craig Richards squares off against Willy Hutchinson.
Ranked among the top main events, this particular one stands out. The undercard is equally impressive. However, we should refrain from exaggerating and claiming that the sport has reached its peak – we haven’t quite reached that point yet. There is still a need for a comprehensive structure and prioritizing long-term planning over immediate attention-grabbing. Nevertheless, the lessons we learn today are incredibly valuable, and it is our hope that when the inevitable happens, which it will eventually, we are already well-prepared and aware of the necessary actions to take.
Awards season
Elliot Worsell and BN scoop plenty of gongs from the BWAA
This week, I experienced immense joy when I discovered that Boxing News had been honored with four ‘Bernie’ Awards by the prestigious Boxing Writers Association of America (BWAA). With a total of eight top three rankings across six categories, Boxing News emerged as the top outlet for 2023.
Elliot Worsell, known for being an exceptional writer and a wonderful friend, achieved remarkable success by winning three awards and securing a second-place position all by himself. For those who have had the pleasure of reading Elliot’s work and appreciating his talent, this accomplishment comes as no surprise. I had been an admirer of Elliot’s for a long time before finally convincing him to join BN several years ago. His writing captivates with its effortless brilliance, leaving me in awe of his ability. However, it is important to acknowledge that Elliot’s talent is not something that appeared overnight; it is the result of a lifetime’s dedication and hard work.
Thomas Hauser, the esteemed journalist, once again secured the prestigious accolade for his outstanding investigative reporting. Furthermore, Oliver Fennell and Jack Hirsch also achieved commendable positions, while Hauser, Fennell, Tris Dixon, and Lewis Watson received honorable mentions for their exceptional contributions.
We extend our congratulations to all the recipients of the awards, and express our gratitude to the BWAA for acknowledging the excellence of our content.
