Is the 5v5 Format the Future of Boxing? A Look at the Matchroom vs Queensberry Showdown
In a historic event, Saudi Arabia hosted the inaugural 5v5 boxing format, marking a potential turning point in the sport. Queensberry Promotions dominated with a 10-0 victory over Matchroom Boxing. This innovative team-based format, featuring five boxers from each promotion camp, captivated the worldwide TV audience. Luke Andrews looks back on the event and asks, “Is the 5v5 format the future of boxing?”
The 5v5 boxing format, introduced in Saudi Arabia last weekend, showcased an innovative concept where five boxers from Queensberry Promotions faced off against five from Matchroom Boxing. The event proved very popular for visitors to the best boxing betting sites, as many of the fights were almost too close to call.
🗣️ “𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗢𝗠𝗕 𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗨𝗨𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗗” 💣  ⚔️ @FrankWarren 🆚 @EddieHearn. Let the battle commence ‼️  🇸🇦 Which team leaves Riyadh with the bragging rights ⁉️  🔴 @Queensberry  🔵 @MatchroomBoxing#Boxing #QueensberryVsMatchroom #5vs5 #RiyadhSeason @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/E0ACT9qXvk
— Pro Boxing Fans (@ProBoxingFans) June 1, 2024
Held at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, this groundbreaking event aimed to settle scores between Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing and Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, bringing their decade-long rivalry to the forefront.
Queensberry and Matchroom Background: Rivalry and Collaboration
The rivalry between Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing dates back to when Frank Warren and Barry Hearn, Eddie’s father, competed for the top spot in UK boxing promotion.
Promoter Barry Hearn gives his fearsome middleweight star Nigel Benn a lift as the Matchroom duo arrive in Central London to promote a 1991 fight with Kid Milo in Brentwood. pic.twitter.com/l2UjS1Hrxy
— London Boxing History (@LDNBOXHISTORY) January 8, 2022
This rivalry intensified when Eddie secured a significant deal with Sky Sports, the UK’s premier sports broadcaster. Their reluctance to collaborate was evident, making this event even more remarkable.
Last October, his Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s involvement in the sport enabled this unprecedented collaboration. Warren and Hearn worked together on the Day of Reckoning card in December, where Anthony Joshua famously knocked out Otto Wallin, signaling a new era of cooperation.
BREAKING: 🇦🇺🇳🇬
ANTHONY JOSHUA HAS WON HIS THIRD FIGHT OF 2023 WITH A TKO VICTORY OVER OTTO WALLIN IN THE MAIN EVENT OF THE “DAY OF RECKONING” CARD IN RIYADH, KSA
Anthony Joshua 27-3 (24 KO’s) wins by TKO in round 5 as Otto Wallin 26-2 (14 KO’s) doesn’t come out for round 6 and… pic.twitter.com/G4giGExbPJ
— A. Ayofe (@abdullahayofel) December 24, 2023
However, the competitive spirit remained alive, leading to this weekend’s 5v5 tournament, where Queensberry and Matchroom once again aimed for bragging rights.
Queensberry vs Matchroom: Event Highlights
Weight Class Selections and Wildcard Picks: Alalshikh permitted Warren and Hearn to select two weight classes each: Warren chose heavyweight and middleweight, while Hearn opted for featherweight and light heavyweight.
Alalshikh himself selected heavyweight as the final weight class. Both promoters were also allowed to draft a wildcard pick from outside their current rosters. Eddie Hearn selected former long-reigning heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder as his pick and captain, while Frank Warren appointed Hamzah Sheeraz as his captain. This strategic move added an intriguing twist to the event, promising thrilling matchups and showcasing both promoters’ expertise and strategic acumen.
Queensberry vs Matchroom 5v5: Key Matches and Results
The night kicked off with a clash between Craig Richards of Matchroom Boxing and Willy Hutchinson of Queensberry Promotions. Hutchinson, demonstrating superior technique and agility, secured an early victory, putting Queensberry in the lead.
Next was the WBA featherweight title fight between Nick Ball and Raymond Ford. The bout was a gruelling 12-round war that kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Ball, representing Queensberry, outlasted Ford in a display of endurance and tactical prowess, earning the WBA featherweight title and further extending Queensberry’s lead.
I’m not going to call it a robbery because it was too close to call it that but aren’t you supposed to TAKE IT from the CHAMP? I thought Raymond Ford edged it but Nick Ball aggression & flurries just catches the judges eyes 🤷🏾♂️ pic.twitter.com/deu6fgqiLX
— Hassan Weliyo (@Hassanweliyo) June 2, 2024
The middleweight contest between Hamzah Sheeraz and Ammo Williams was another highlight. Sheeraz dominated Williams in a final eliminator for the WBC middleweight title, resulting in a stoppage win that secured double points for Queensberry.
In the heavyweight division, Filip Hrgovic faced off against Daniel Dubois. With his explosive power and relentless pressure, Dubois managed to defeat Hrgovic in a battle for the IBF interim heavyweight title.
Daniel Dubois 🇬🇧 (21-2, 19 KOs) s’impose par arrêt du docteur face à Filip Hrgovic 🇭🇷 (17-1, 14 KOs) dans le round 8 !#QueensberryVsMatchroom pic.twitter.com/ogjSS1fC1H
— 5ᵉᵐᵉ Round (@Le5Round_MMA) June 1, 2024
The final bout featured Deontay Wilder for Matchroom and Zhilei Zhang for Queensberry. Both fighters were looking to bounce back from recent defeats. Wilder was beaten soundly by Joseph Parker in December, the same opponent who also beat Zhang in March.
Zhilei Zhang FINISHED Deontay Wilder in SPECTACULAR FASHION!! 💥 🇨🇳 😤 pic.twitter.com/UoHSnNUXiO
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) June 2, 2024
Zhang delivered a stunning performance, stopping Wilder in the fifth round and securing a clean sweep for Queensberry. The manner of victory was so convincing that many pundits expect Wilder to retire. Since the American’s three fights with Tyson Fury (one draw, two defeats), the 38-year-old has only managed to win once (Robert Helenius) in his last three.
“𝗪𝗜𝗟𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗜𝗦 𝗔𝗡 𝗘𝗫𝗖𝗘𝗣𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗠𝗔𝗡… 𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗟𝗗 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚” 👊
🥊 @AlenBabic11 has a feeling @BronzeBomber may not retire ❌
Full Interview ➡️ https://t.co/6eZFvXC6ew#Boxing #DeontayWilder #AlenBabic pic.twitter.com/xxBj5NiX95
— Pro Boxing Fans (@ProBoxingFans) June 5, 2024
Potential for Future Queensberry vs Matchroom 5v5 Events
Benefits and Future Matchups: – The success of the Queensberry vs Matchroom 5v5 event paves the way for future tournaments. The competitive nature of the bouts kept fans on the edge of their seats, proving the concept’s potential.
Nery vs Fulton https://t.co/kks1VjFsuO
— PANTERA (@luisnerynp) May 31, 2024
Plans for future iterations are already being discussed, including a potential USA vs Mexico event, which Terence Crawford and Canelo Alvarez could headline. Given the inaugural event’s success, a rematch between Queensberry and Matchroom seems inevitable. Another intriguing possibility is a UK vs USA event, capitalising on the long-standing boxing rivalry between the two nations. Several potential matchups have already been proposed for future 5v5 events.
For instance, a trans-Atlantic clash could feature Devin Haney against Dalton Smith, Nick Ball versus Stephen Fulton, and Daniel Dubois taking on Jared Anderson. These fights would attract fans from both sides of the Atlantic and provide a platform for emerging talents to showcase their skills on a grand stage.
🇬🇧Exclusive interview with @daltonsmith08 for @boxingscene 👇
We discussed his hope of fighting at Hillsborough Stadium with Devin Haney at the top of his wish-list 💥#HaneySmith #Boxing https://t.co/EnEjdMzKDU
— Adam Noble-Forcey (@Adam4cSports) May 25, 2024
The 5v5 boxing format has demonstrated its viability and potential to revolutionise the sport. Creating compelling narratives and delivering high-quality entertainment has captured the imagination of boxing fans worldwide.
With influential figures like Turki Alalshikh advocating for more such events, the future looks bright for team-based boxing competitions. The anticipation for the next instalment is already building, and the boxing community eagerly awaits to see how this innovative format will evolve.