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Underdogs: Can Wilder, Dubois, Williams, Ball and Hutchinson tip the scales?

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ONE of the most enticing features of Saturday’s Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5v5 are the matchups that were created.

Promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn were asked to choose two weight classes for this unique event, and Turki Alalshikh – the man responsible for ending the Cool War in British boxing – chose the fifth. With Warren and Hearn talking to each other and working together, the fights have been made and there is something to look forward to.

This weekend, Deontay Wilder, Daniel Dubois, Austin “Ammo” Williams, Nick Ball and Willy Hutchinson are favored to lose to Zhilei Zhang, Filip Hrgovic, Hamzah Sheeraz, Raymond Ford and Craig Richards respectively.

But will they do it? assesses what chances the five weaker teams have to win in Riyad.


DEONTAY WILDER vs. Zhilei Zhang (heavyweight)

Some may be surprised that Wilder (13/10) is not the favorite in this heavyweight fight given his pedigree, but his last performance against Joseph Parker was so terrible that maybe it’s a shock that his chances aren’t better. The “Brown Bomber”, once the era’s most devastating punch, now looked as plain and one-dimensional as many thought it lacked concealer.

That being said, Wilder promises to “rediscover” the aggression that was lost next time against the tactically astute Parker. Zhang (13/08) may not be as delicate as the Up-to-date Zealander, but he has a powerful force that could end Wilder and possibly his career once and for all.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 15: Zhilei Zhang faces Deontay Wilder during a 5-on-5 press conference ahead of their fight in the Artur Beterbiev and Dmitril Bivol WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO delicate heavyweight fight at Outernet London on April 15, 2024 in London , England. (Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images).


DANIEL DUBOIS vs. Filip Hrgovic (heavyweight)

Dubois’ career has been full of ups and downs, and “Dynamite” is now one victory away from another shot at the world title. Before he was stopped, the Londoner gave his all against heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk nine months ago. Against Jarrell Miller in December, Dubois fared better against the uncompromising heavyweight whose strongest trait was his work ethic.

Dubois jumped in his face and stopped the American in the final round. Hrgovic, the current mandatory challenger for the IBF title, is a different prospect, but one who projects both warm and frigid. The Croatian (4/9) is expected to be over-skilled compared to the Briton (7/4), but his performance against Miller really boosted his confidence.

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA – DECEMBER 23: Daniel Dubois watches the heavyweight fight between Daniel Dubois and Jarrell Miller during Day of Reckoning: Fight Night at Kingdom Arena on December 23, 2023 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia. (Photo: Richard Pelham/Getty Images).


AUSTIN “AMMO” WILLIAMS vs. Hamzah Sheeraz (middleweight)

Since signing Williams at Matchroom over five years ago, Williams’ promoter Eddie Hearn has always had high hopes for the Texan. The 28-year-old’s progress has been solid but unspectacular, and against Sheeraz he will be up against one of the UK’s most invigorating talents.

This long-awaited clash of middleweight contenders will be a litmus test in both men’s careers. Williams (7/4) may be the type of fighter who needs someone as risky as Sheeraz (4/9) to get the best out of him. The American does most things well, but lacks the same constant threat that Sheeraz carries throughout the fight.

Austin Williams opens for Kieron Conway in Las Vegas on September 17 (Photo: Sarah Stier/Getty Images)


NICK BALL vs. Raymond Ford (featherweight)

Ball was one point card away from becoming the WBC featherweight champion in March against Rey Vargas. Instead, the Scouser received a double draw for his efforts. This time he will face WBA champion Raymond Ford, who won the title against Otabek Kholmatov in stunning style in March.

Ball then faces a more arduous task. Ford showed that he had overdue power, could dig deep and stay in the fight from the first to the twelfth round. But did the Up-to-date Jersey native stay at 126 pounds for too long? Ball (11/8) already knows he’s among the best in the world, and he needs to make Ford (4/7) uncomfortable from the start to see how arduous it was for the titleholder to reach the championship weight.

Nick Ball

Getty Images


WILLY HUTCHINSON vs. Craig Richards (delicate heavyweight)

Hutchinson has long been considered a top talent, but things went from bad to worse when, despite his relative inexperience, he showed his skills against Lennox Clarke three years ago. The British’s title loss was a painful lesson for the Scot, who won four matches against average opposition. Richards is tried and tested and looked better than ever against Boris Crighton in February, with fresh coach Shane McGuigan in his corner.

The hard-hitting Hutchinson will have to deliver the performance Frank Warren has been waiting for against another experienced campaigner like Richards (8/11), whose defeats to Dmitry Bivol and Joshua Buatsi confirmed his world-class credentials. It’s another leap of faith for Hutchinson (11/10).

Willy Hutchinson


OVERALL VERDICT: If either favorite loses, it will most likely be Zhang and Richards.

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The fight between Alexis Rocha and Raul Curiel will take place on December 14 at the Toyota Arena

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Rocha vs Curiel

In a clash of forces between two world title contenders, NABO welterweight titleholder Alexis “Lex” Rocha (25-2-0, 16 KO) will put his skills to the test against undefeated knockout and NABF welterweight titleholder Raul “El Cugar “. Curiel (15-0, 13 KO).

The 10-round main event will take place on Saturday, December 14, live from the Toyota Arena in Ontario, California, and will be broadcast worldwide on DAZN.

“‘The best versus the best’ is Golden Boy’s mantra and that’s what fans will see as Rocha and Curiel take on everything that’s on the table,” said President and CEO Oscar De La Hoya. “Rocha is a veteran whose goal is to win the world title, Curiel is an undefeated blue-chip prospect with huge potential. It’s really a 50/50 fight and I’m looking forward to it.”

Tickets for the Rocha vs. match Curiel will go on sale on Friday, October 11 at 10 a.m. PT and will be priced at $100, $75, $50 and $25, excluding applicable service fees. A confined number of Golden Boy VIP Experience tickets will also be available, including exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades. Standard and VIP tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com, Toyota-arena.com, Goldenboy.com or at the Toyota Arena box office from Monday to Friday from 12:00 to 16:00

“I’ve seen Raul Curiel all these years and he never once mentioned my name,” Alexis Rocha said. “After my last defeat, he suddenly became interested in fighting me. If he thinks I’ve lost a step or somehow had an simple fight, he’s in for a rude awakening. I can’t wait to make a statement and show the world what I’m capable of.”

Santa Ana, California Rep. Alexis “Lex” Rocha comes from a struggling family. The younger brother of Ronny Rios, he was the youngest fighter to win a gold medal at the Junior Olympics at the age of 14 in 2012 and caught the attention of the boxing world by becoming a six-time national champion during his amateur career. Rocha signed with Golden Boy in January 2016 and made his professional debut in March 2016, defeating Jordan Rosario at the Belasco Theater in Los Angeles. Since then, he has amassed an enviable record of powerful knockouts over top contenders and plans to return to world title contention, with his last fight being a victory over undefeated Santiago Dominguez on July 19 last year.

“The fans can expect a war,” said Raul Curiel. “I’m going to prepare well to put on a great show. This will be the most essential fight of my career so far. I know Alexis is a great fighter, a good opponent and will also show up prepared. My focus is on Alexis and if I can beat him, I know it will give me a chance to fight for the world championship.

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George Kambosos moves up to 140, adds Eddie Hearn to team

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George Kambosos beats Teofimo

Former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos approached promoter Eddie Hearn asking for more massive fights.

Kambosos has signed a co-promotional deal with Eddie Hearn, under which the Greek-Australian slugger will continue his association with DiBella Entertainment Inc. and his own company, Ferocious Promotions.

The 21-3 star will move up to the super lightweight division of Matchroom Boxing’s lively division. He aims to become a two-weight world champion in early 2025, and as part of the deal, a title fight is promised as long as he continues to win.

Since his stunning victory over Teofimo Lopez, Kambosos has never shied away from competing against the best. Those three losses on his resume came to Devin Haney [twice] and Vasily Lomachenko, all at home and all for world titles.

The 31-year-old is now set to face compatriot Liam Paro after defending his IBF title against Richardson Hitchins in December in Puerto Rico.

“I am thrilled to be working with Matchroom Boxing. I am excited to have signed a three-way promotional cooperation agreement with my long-time promoter DiBella Entertainment Inc. and Ferocious Promotions,” Kambosos said.

“I made great success and history when I moved up the Matchroom shows by winning my UK elimination fight against Lee Selby. The most noteworthy and unforgettable is my victory against Teofimo at Madison Square Garden in Up-to-date York to become the 135-pound world champion.

“I am officially announcing that I will be moving up to 140 pounds and signing with Matchroom will ensure my continued success and the legacy I want to leave in the sport of boxing.”

Hearn, who adds an experienced campaigner to his stable, added: “I am delighted to welcome George to the team. George’s victory over Teofimo tore up the script and showed that George was the man for the massive time. He has proven to be a huge attraction in Australia and one of the real driving forces behind the rapid growth of boxing Down Under.

“The 140-pound division is full of massive names and massive potential fights. Adding George to the mix only elevates the level, and a possible fight with Liam Paro is a truly appetizing prospect. If Liam manages to win in a great fight against Richardson on December 7th [the fight could be on].

Lou DiBella, who has worked with Kambosos for years, said: “I’m glad I was able to make a deal with my antique buddy Eddie to work with George Kambosos Jr. and Ferocious Promotions.

“Throughout his career, George has been a fighter who has never shied away from a challenge, and now he wants to test himself against top junior welterweights.

Matchroom works with top 140-pounders, including George’s compatriot Liam Paro, and, like DiBella Entertainment, is heavily invested in Australia.

“It’s a natural partnership,” added the Up-to-date Yorker.

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Mike Tyson had absolutely no chance of knocking out Jake Paul

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Mike Tyson comeback black

One of the hottest topics surrounding Mike Tyson’s return at the age of 58 was the possibility of the boxing legend scoring a knockout of Jake Paul.

WBN has weighed in on this topic several times, questioning the validity of five-second training clips that revealed nothing about Tyson’s abilities at this overdue age. One of the most intriguing observations during the preparations was the opinion of UFC commentator Daniel Cormier.

Speaking on his show “Funky and the Champ,” Cormier reflected on Tyson’s social media videos and offered an informed opinion on the meaning of the clips.

“I understand that [he is in amazing shape at 58]and I understand what he is saying [he feels as though he can compete]– Cormier said. “And I agree that when he hits the pads with Rafael Cordeiro, it looks like there’s still something left in him.

“But then I watch Jake Paul fight Mike Perry. I saw Jake Paul get overwhelmed to the point where he started to feel uncomfortable. It looked like Mike Perry had a chance. But Jake has a reserve tank he can go to and benefit from because he’s 28 years ancient. Then he comes back and finally finishes Mike Perry.

“At the beginning of the fight, Mike Perry gets beaten up and dropped. He looks trained and unmatched. This worries me because what if it looks like a 58-year-old man fighting a 28-year-old man while Mike can’t employ the backup tank to stay and compete with this newborn kid? I think it’s a failure for Jake Paul because if you beat Mike Tyson, everyone will love him.

He added: “What if Mike knocks him out? It’s over. Everything is ready. This would be the backfire of all time. If he gets knocked out, nothing like that has ever happened in the history of the sport.”

Unfortunately for Tyson, this revenge backfired spectacularly, as the former heavyweight champion’s return was the only event that bombed. Tyson had nothing left twenty years after he had nothing left in his tank and no desire to box in his mind.

Paul parlayed this into a money-making scheme that would forever be a success for him and his company, but would be poorly received by the die-hard boxing fraternity.

Cormier’s words resonate, especially after what happened in the ring when Mike Tyson struggled to shift into first gear, warning former fighters thinking about returning after 50.

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