Deontay Wilder - Zhilei Zhang summary online, round by round, stats and highlights
5v5: Queensberry sweeps Matchroom
Zhilei Zhang breaks Deontay Wilder's heart
In the end the evening was both disappointing and exhilarating. While the great disappointment was that Artur Beterbiev was unable to fight, his replacement in Malik Zinad was outstanding. Ultimately overmatched by Dmitri Bivol, he nevertheless gave as good as he got for six tough rounds.
Another disappointment was the 5v5, which was expected to be more of an even run race. In the end, Frank Warrens Queensberry ran away with a clean sweep of the evening. But even that can be seen as a thrilling outcome.
And then the main event. With everything to fight for both Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder we're coming off decision losses to Joseph Parker. Wilder had spoken in the run up to the fight of a do or die moment, hinting that if he lost to night it might be the end of the road for his career. I believe that what we witnessed was exactly that.
Both men we're clearly wary of the other's power, pawing and poking their lead jab, reticent to follow it with a backhand. Neither is a boxer in the strict sense of the term, both are punchers, and both were looking for their shot. In the end that shot came in the fifth round.
Deontay Wilder came out on the front foot, looking to create the opening that had never been there in previous rounds. He came forward and landed his right hand, that powerful hammer that has seen him through so many difficult fights, and even gave Zhang a slight scare. But only very slightly, because Zhang came back and spun Wilder, not with his left but with his short right. The first shot turned Wilder around and the second sent him sprawling on the flat of his back.
While Big Bang looked to be as powerful as ever, his age is perhaps against him getting the huge fights. Does he deserve a shot at Usyk? Or Fury? Or Joshua? Yes of course he does. But at 41 years old, he may only get one and maybe not even that.
Wilder however is a shell of his former self. Those three fights against Tyson Fury took it out of him. The loss to Joseph Parker sapped his energy. And now, I fear that this loss to Zhilei Zhang may have broken his heart. If this was the last time that we see Deontay Wilder in a boxing ring, then a great heavyweight puncher will have gone out, not with a bang, but with a whimper.
GOODBYE!!!
That is going to do it for our live coverage of Deontay Wilder vs Zhilei Zhang. We hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did!
Keep abreast of all boxing and sports news with Diario AS USA and stick with us as we bring you a full calendar of top-notch boxing live.
We will return with live boxing coverage on June 15th for Gervonta Davis vs Frank Martin and David Benavidez vs Oleksandr Gvozdyk. Until then, good night and God bless!
Clean sweep by Queensberry
Frank Warren's firm takes all the fights, with a clean sweep of the 5v5 bill.
What an incredible finish! The fight was so... well, boring. There's no better way to say it. And then all of a sudden Zhang landed a right hook which stunned Wilder causing him to turn his back and then Big Bang followed it up with another big right and Wilder was gone.
For me, that is it for Wilder’s career. I can't see how he comes back from this. I firmly believe that was the last time that we will see Deontay Wilder in a boxing ring. For Zhang, he could certainly move on to a bigger fight, perhaps that big money fight that has eluded him his entire career. The only thing against him is time. At 41 years of age Zhilei Zhang doesn't have very much left in front of him.
Zhilei Zhang wins by TKO
While there is beginning to move a lot more and he lands a right hand which tumbles Zhang onto the ropes this looks more like the old Wilder! Moving his feet and letting his hands go, Wilder lands another two stiff right hands. Zhang lands a heavy right hand and Wilder collapses flat on his back! This could be the end of it! Somehow Wilder gets to his feet but he is completely out of it! The referee waves it off and that is that! Oh my word! What a huge knockout! Right when Wilder started to open up and go for broke Zhang landed a huge paw right on his nose and blood is gushing from it now. It certainly looks as if the nose is broken. Oh my! What a finish!
Wilder opens up with a one-two and for the first time in the fight let his right hand go. Zhang walks Wilder back onto the ropes but again is not ready to throw any huge punches.
Both fighters are so trepidatious that they are really not giving the crowd a great show. Both are so busy looking for that one big shot that one big heavy knockout blow that they've forgotten to box.
In three rounds I would be amazed if they've thrown more than 50 punches between the two of them!
Zhang pokes a left onto Wilders chin and he stumbles back into the ropes. Wilder gets out of trouble and hesitates when throwing the right. Oh no! That was his shot! Wilder through a feint with his right and decided not to go through with it but had Zhang wide open.
Zhang lands a nice little probing right hook, but the real story is Wilder. He looks like a shell of the former champion that he was. He seems to have had his heart broken and looks like a defeated man.
Zhang throws very few punches even for a heavyweight, preferring instead to get in close to lean on you and set up that one big hammer blow. Zhang comes in close and pushes Wilder onto the ropes and he lands a huge uppercut and Wilder is in real trouble here! A couple of shots more and Zhang lands a big left cross while there is in real difficulty!
Somehow Wilder works his way off the ropes and back into the middle of the ring. And now Wilder throws back his own right hand. It doesn't harm Zhang in any way but it does put him on notice that someone is in the ring with him.
And we're off! These are two heavy punchers, two big men who have made their career on banging away and banging opponents out of there. Zhang has almost a 70 pound advantage over Wilder. Neither man is known as a pugilist, neither is going to do stick and move tactics, both will paw out their jab and try to set up the heavy backhand. Wilder the orthodox is setting up his right, while Zhang the southpaw is looking to set up that heavy left.
Neither man commits too much in the first round pawing their jab out there.
Zhilei Zhang vs. Deontay Wilder [Heavyweight]
Now it is time for the main event as Zhilei Zhang faces Deontay Wilder. Both of these fighters are coming off of a decision loss to Joseph Parker and will be looking to get their fortunes back on track.
Heartbreaking
Nobody wants to see a fight stopped by the doctor, but a fighter's health and safety are always first and foremost.
Not to take anything away from Dubois, who just put on an outstanding performance battering Filip Hrgovic, but the reality is neither of these two fighters would give Anthony Joshua any trouble.
As for the 5V5 tournament, this is a definitive win by Frank Warren and Queensberry. Now up 8 nothing, it is impossible for Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom to level the score. That means the $3 million prize we'll go to Queensberry!
Daniel Dubois wins by TKO
Just at the end of that round the referee warned Dubois about leading with his head. He's been doing it the entire fight and he's head butted Hrgovic at least four times that I've seen. Hrgovic now has enormous cuts opened up on both eyes, likely as a result of those head clashes.
Dubois jumps straight on him and Hrgovic has nothing to give back. Again, the referee calls time and goes to the side to have a look and a word with the ring doctor, who calls a halt to the bout having looked at those cuts on Hrgovic’s eyes! Oh my! The fight was waved off on medical grounds and Dubois gets the TKO!
At the halfway point I think Dubois is the one who has the upper hand. Hrgovic looks completely exhausted. Dubois lands another big left hook and Hrgovic is in trouble! He is all out of sorts and Dubois could finish him. But no! He doesn't look as if he has enough energy to press the matter enough to end the fight.
The two men lumber around the ring and Dubois lands another huge right hand! Surely this is it! Hrgovic is giving nothing back! Another huge right lands clean! How on earth is Hrgovic still on his feet? Another left and Hrgovic falls into the ropes for the bell!
This fight has been a roller coaster and for a heavyweight bout it has been fought at a blistering pace. Hrgovic is still throwing hammer blows but he is not trying to put together combinations or looking for counters, simply trying to set up that heavy straight right.
Dubois on the other hand it's still moving well going in and out but also adding nice lateral movement to his arsenal. A lot of work has been done by Dubois with the left the lead hand as he swats and hooks before backing it up with that straight right.
Dubois comes out firing and throws a huge right hand diving in and catching Hrgovic. A solid right hand finds Dubois’ head and now both men are showing signs of fatigue. The referee calls time and brings Hrgovic to the side to have a word with him.
The little breather seems to have helped dubois who has come out firing a little bit more regularly than before that. He throws an uppercut that lands low and the referee again calls time and tells Dubois to keep his shots up.
Dubois comes out firing solid landing with both hands left hook straight right and Hrgovic is in all sorts of trouble. There is blood now coming from his nose, the corner of his mouth, and a cut on his right eye.
This is an insane heavyweight battle! It looks like both of these men decided that they would be here for a short time, and it would be heavy and brutal. Hrgovic is willing to mix it up and is looking for an inroad but he is definitely feeling the frantic pace of this fight.
The blood coming from Hrgovic's eye seems to be affecting his vision, and Dubois is taking full advantage throwing tons of shots that way.
Dubois charges in head first and catches Hrgovic with the top of his head. That is the second time that has happened in as many rounds.
Dubois is now fighting off the front foot, pushing forward and walking Hrgovic back. Dubois is moving well and there seems to be a bit of blood coming from Hrgovic’s nose. Dubois lands a beautiful left hook and follows it with a solid right back hand. Hrgovic answers back with another straight right beautiful!
Both men are starting to show signs of fatigue although oddly it is dubois who looks the fresher of the two. Despite being the bigger man and also the one who is moving around the ring more, Dubois looks to be carrying it better.
The second round comes out and both of them are still slugging away. Neither man seems to be interested in defense, both just throwing heavy thudding shots. Hrgovic working straightforward behind that one tube and straight right hand, while Dubois is moving perhaps a bit better bouncing adding lateral movement and working behind that lead left hook.
Dubois lands a heavy right and Hrgovic comes back in with his own left hook, dips down for a left uppercut and then brings that right hand over the top. In the final ten seconds Dubois lands an eye-catching left.
We get underway as the ball comes out confidently heading to the middle of the ring. Both men stand toe to toe and slug it out for three solid minutes! It's incredible particularly at heavyweight. Neither of these act as if they see this go in the fall 12 rounds.
Hrgovic lands a lovely straight right and he gets a bit greedy going in for another right on the bell as Dubois pokes out a stiff left jab that stops him in his tracks.
Daniel Dubois vs. Filip Hrgovic [Heavyweight]
Now we have what is essentially an IBF eliminator as Daniel Dubois takes on Filip Hrgovic. The IBF belt currently in the possession of Oleksandr Usyk currently mandates Hrgovic as their mandatory challenger, but have agreed to wait until the outcome of this fight and the rematch with Tyson Fury before pressing the subject.
Dmitry Bivol wins by TKO
Zinad is definitely not overwhelmed as we come into the halfway mark. I have Bivol up on my card, but Zinad is definitely in the fight.
Bivol lands a huge right hand and Zinad is all undone! He is all over the ring! His legs are gone! Zinad falls against the ropes and Bivol is just unloading, shot after shot! Zinad's got nothing left and the referee steps in to wave it off! What an ending! And when it came it came suddenly!
After the emotion spilled over at the end of round four both fighters have come out a little more active in the fifth. Zinad is the longer of the two fighters and Bivol has to come in close to land his shots. As he tries to come in Zinad lands a big right hand, perhaps his best of the fight so far.
Bivol is incredible on the defense and manages to avoid being hurt in any way, but nevertheless continues forward, marching his man down.
Bivol pushes Zinad nodded into the corner and cuts the ring down but the Libyan manages to slip away.
The first half of the round goes by without much to separate the two. As we hit the minute 30 mark, Bivol comes within range as he tries to double his jab up a bit. Zinad has blood pouring from his nose after having that left stuck in his snout all evening.
They trade single jabs and as the round comes to an end they square off and go head to head after the bell. Both fighters seemed frustrated.
The pace has slowed as both men test the other, Bivol going in with a triple jab and Zinad making him pay on the way out.
Both have a straightforward style going in and coming back out and while the first round was a tear up the fight seems to have settled into a stick and move competition. Zinad lands a very nice straight right hand and the two men clinch before being separated by the referee.
The second round begins as quickly as the first ended. Zinad is a little more wary after feeling Bivol’s power and is not letting his hands go as freely as he did before.
Bivol edges forward and Zinad lands a good back hand, putting leather onto the Russian more than most people thought he would.
This is a big one as Bivol defends his world title against Zinad. Both are 22-0, but Bivol is the heavy favorite. Each fighter comes out and letting their hands go and Zinad lands a peach of a right hand on the Russian champ.
Bivol comes back firing and drops the challenger with a straight right with a minute left in the round! He takes the count and comes back to see the round out. What a start!
Dmitry Bivol* vs. Malik Zinad [WBA light heavyweight title]
Now we have a bout for the WBA light heavyweight title as Dmitry Bivol faces Malik Zinad. Both fighters are undefeated at 22-0 but Bivol trained for Artur Beterbiev who withdrew due to an injury sustained in training. Malik Zinad stepped in at short notice and will be looking to pull off the unthinkable and take the title away from Bivol.
That was an amazing stoppage! And to be fair to the ref it was perfect. Williams was completely undone. He was badly hurt and had the fight been allowed to go on any longer, he could have really been seriously injured. A wonderful performance but in the end he was just simply outclassed by Hamzah Sheeraz.
That brings the score for this team event to 6-0 in favor of Queensberry. They were already up 2-0 and a knockout is worth two points. Because Hamza Shiraz is their captain, the points double. So they added four points to their total.
Hamzah Sheeraz wins by TKO
Williams is in all sorts of trouble here as the 11th gets going. He is still trying to push forward lean on the inside and throw flurries of shots at Sheeraz, but those long arms cover just about every available centimeter of space.
Sheeraz throws a counter uppercut and a right hook and since Williams tumbling backwards! He is clearly out of it! He doesn't fall down, but he is in all sorts of trouble and the referee has seen enough and waves it off! That's it! Sheeraz wins by TKO!
What started as a back and forth has seen Sheeraz jump out to a commanding lead. Williams comes out and again goes to work on that mid-section, throwing flurries of shots. Again Sheeraz is content to work with the counter.
As Williams comes forward to try to cut that distance down Sheeraz taps him with a nice right uppercut. A straight left catches Williams and turns him just as he was on the way forward. Sheeraz is in complete control of this fight.
The final ten seconds sees Sheeraz throw a beautiful short counter left hook that drops Williams to one knee! He takes the count and stands ready to continue but the bell comes to save him. That was a beautiful shot! A cracker of a left hook! Short and on the counter.
This is a little bit better from Williams here he comes forward and pounds away at the midsection of Sheeraz he lands left hook right hook one two three four five shots! This is what he needs to do he needs to let his hands go.
Sheeraz on the other hand is content to cover up and counter, and why not? Every time he throws that counter right, he catches Williams cleanly.
Sheeraz has only ever been to the judges’ score cards once in his career. And you can see why. Shiraz lands a huge right hand and Williams is shaken! He backpedals to get out of trouble. Strangely, Sheeraz seems to hesitate at trying to finish him off.
Williams tries to push the fight inside but he's keeping his hands reined in. It seems to be a terrible idea! And as if on cue Sheeraz lands a beautiful uppercut. Williams shows his way forward again getting inside pushing Sheeraz onto the ropes, but again seems unwilling to let his hands go.
Sheeraz has done so much damage on the outside that Williams’ eye is swollen nearly shut. He must be aware of the fact that he is losing nearly every round, he has got to be aware of how far behind he is on the score cards.
Sheeraz seems to be pulling out into a slow lead here, taking the last couple of rounds from my liking. Williams needs to find a second wind and somehow get inside. Perhaps with the swelling on that eye it's making him more cautious, but he is staying outside further at range, and that is exactly where he doesn't want to be against Sheeraz.
Sheeraz, on the other hand, looks comfortable and at ease. He is doubling and even tripling that jab taking full advantage of that swollen eye. As Williams tries to maneuver his way around to the left he's walking straight onto that right hand from Sheeraz.
We're at the halfway point and this has been a back and forth battle, each fighter taking a round and then giving one up. Here they both come out a little more free with their shots and the first one that lands solidly is a stiff jab that buckles Williams’ knees.
That right eye of Williams is beginning to swell and that will be giving him some trouble seeing that quick snap coming from Sheeraz’s jab.
Taking full advantage of the situation Sheeraz doubles up that jab, landing cleanly, following it with the right hand and going back to the double jab.
Williams comes out in round five throwing punches in bunches. Shiraz is covering up and blocking most of it, or at least taking it on his elbows, and catches Williams with a nice left hook counter to stop the attack dead.
Again Williams stays active letting his hands go a little more freely, but still he has to stay aware of that sharp, accurate counter shot by Hamzah Sheeraz.
As we hit the halfway point Shiraz opens up his offense a little, allowing his shots to be let go a little more freely, and thuds a right hand into Williams, which causes Williams to stumble slightly. He doesn't look hurt from it, it's just that that shot was so heavy it sort of pushed him over.
Williams comes out and lands a huge left hand that shakes Sheeraz to his boots! Williams needs to get inside and stay there. As long as the fight is on the outside, the longer, taller, rangier Sheeraz has the advantage.
Sheeraz seems quite happy to allow Williams to stay inside and try and counter him. It's a bad move. Williams lands a lovely uppercut. Sheeraz seems to be a little bit negative this round just recovering his legs after that rocket of a start by Williams.
As the seconds tick by Williams lands another wonderful left hand pushing Sheeraz onto the ropes as the bell sounds.
Both fighters come out and meet in the middle of the ring and now it is the turn of Sheeraz to land a lovely right hand. Williams comes straight forward and now Shiraz hits him with a left! Williams’ knees buckle slightly with that shot!
Once again and on the way out they begin to trade hooks and Sheeraz lands a huge left hook! Williams shakes his head and sticks his tongue out as if to say it didn't hurt him, but everyone knows that when you do that you really are hurt.
Round comes to a close Williams throws a double jab but eats a huge right hand from Sheeraz that sends him onto his heels just as the bell sounds.
Williams picks up the pace a little and opens with a left hand to the midsection. As Sheeraz comes in to respond, Williams lands a straight left that snaps his head back! Sheeraz covers and back pedals, going on the defensive. That shot really shook him!
Williams William stays on the front foot working the midsection landing a very nice counter left as Sheeraz tries to answer. Williams is happy when Sheeraz throws a punch because it opens up that chin.
Sheeraz flicks out a lovely jab which pushes Williams back just as the round ends. A very nice round for Williams!
We get things started with Williams working from the southpaw side and Sheeraz working orthodox. Williams is twitchy, bouncing, dancing from side to side, while Sheeraz stays upright and compact. Shiraz has a height advantage of three inches.
Both fighters probe look for a way in and flick out jabs as they test the waters.
Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Austin Williams [Middleweight]
Now one of the biggest fights of the night as Queensberry's captain Hamzah Sheeraz faces Austin Williams in a middleweight contest. In this contest, the captain's points are worth double, so should Sheeraz win, Queensberry would have a 4-0 lead on Matchroom.
That was as close as you can imagine! Anyone would be happy to see that as a rematch.
AND THE NEW: Nick Ball wins the WBA featherweight title by split decision
The judges saw it as a split decision.
115 113 Ford
115 113 Ball
115 113 Ball
Nick Ball becomes the new WBA featherweight world champion!
I gave that final round to Ford because Ball was hurt, but to be fair to Ball he gave as good as he got. And that's exactly what it was like throughout the fight. Every round had both men giving just as good as they got.
The only opinion that counts is the opinion of the three judges at ringside. Let's see what they had to say about it.
The final round and it's almost impossible to know who's winning this fight. Ford comes out hammering away but Nick Ball as ever just marches forward. He manages to push forward onto the ropes landing an uppercut and a left hook before Ford lands a huge left hand! The tide turns once again!
At the halfway point they're both trading heavy blows! Nick Ball lands uppercut after uppercut, ohh! Ford lands a huge left hook and ball is unsteady on his feet now! He has no time to recover and so he just does what he knows how to do and stays on the attack! This is incredible! Even wobbled, even stunned, Nick Ball continues to push forward! I think he just doesn't know any other way to box.
As we come down to the final bell both men stand toe to toe just flailing! Who won the fight? Who knows? Both men immediately jump on the ropes to celebrate, and either one could be correct!
Ball charges forward and shoves Ford onto the ropes, but again Ford uses his feet well and manages to turn Ball. They get tied up and push on to the ropes again And Ford lands a left hook but Ball answers straight back with a right hook and a left cross both landing cleanly.
We're into the championship rounds now and this feels like the tide has turned. Ball is still marching forward and laying shots onto Ford, But those shots are coming back towards him.
This is a good spell from netball right now as he lands combination after combination double left hook right uppercut, splitting the guard. Ford using his feet well gets out of trouble.
Ford comes out and taps, touching, jabbing, getting points, trying to open up Ball, before throwing that left hand straight down the pipe.
Ford stays on the attack and while Ball is fighting the only way that he knows how he is now being matched shot for shot by Ford.
You get the sense that the first three rounds was set at such a high pace that perhaps Ford needed a breather and Ball took over the next three. But now that Ford has gotten back into this, gotten the wind back into his sails, he is pressing forward again and has turned this back into a 50-50 fight!
Now there is blood streaming from the nose of Nick Ball And he comes out trying to get back on the front foot, trying to bully Ford back into submission.
Ford lands an enormous left uppercut and it just jelly-legs Ball! Ball is blowing blood out of his nose trying to get back some semblance of Terra Firma under his feet.
Ford is moving well fighting like the champion that he is. He is sticking he is moving nicely backing away and using his feet to change the angles.
Ball bullies forward and shoves forward onto his back. No knockdown.
Beyond the halfway point now and it looks to me like Nick Ball is easily winning this fight. The opening 3 rounds were a 50-50 so a lot could depend on what the judges at ringside saw in those rounds. But the last three rounds have been Nick Ball swarming and absolutely beating Ray Ford up!
At exactly that moment Ray Ford turns the tide and jumps in with an enormous left hook that lands cleanly! Nick Ball is covering up and trying to weather this! He's in real trouble!
The round comes to an end and that was a huge round for ray Ford! Just when it looked as if Nick Ball might run away with it, Ford has pounded his way back into this fight!
The pace in this fight so far has been blistering. Nick Ball has stayed heavy on the front foot, pressing that accelerator and refusing to back down. But Ray Ford has been determined to match him throughout the fight, landing his own combinations. And while Ford has been perhaps outpunched he's not been overwhelmed.
A beautiful short left to the ribs from Ball makes Ford cover up and wince. You can see that shot hurt.
Time is called with 30 seconds left and the ref gives a warning for a low blow to Nick Ball. I don't know if that is the correct thing to take I mean Nick Ball is only about 5 foot 2 so it's difficult for him to throw a shot that's not low!
Ford is working better off of the front foot now establishing himself and imposing his will a little bit more on this round. Nick Ball has always had a bulldog style pushing forward and taking the fight to the other man but right now it's forced to cover up.
At the halfway point they stand toe to toe and trade heavy combinations. Nick Ball lands two nice uppercuts that snap Ray Ford's head back.
That cut on Ford's eye is bleeding freely now. That was a really good round for Nick Ball.
Ford comes out with a cut on his right eye sustained in the last round but it doesn't seem to slow him in any way. He inches forward and tries to stay away from Ball, but that dog in advance eventually shoves him back onto the ropes.
It looks as if Ford is having more success engaging that distance using the jab to paw out and keep Ball at distance. He seems to be timing Ball better, managing to land a stiff jabs every time Ball comes forward.
Ford comes out looking sharp throwing a double jab and left hook in response to Ball at his bulldog style. Ball stays on the front foot and goes in looking for all the angles left hook around the guard a right uppercut splits the guard and he stays on the attack. Ford responds with nice multi shot combinations but he can't keep the pace that ball is setting.
Ball charges out lands a low left hook and an overhand right to start things off. Once again applying heavy pressure ball lands a three punch combination followed by an overhand right. Ford swats it away and comes out with a jab and left hook throwing his own shots at the body landing a left and a right hook to the ribs before ball comes back with a heavy right hand straight down the middle.
The pace of the round was quite high with both men trying to stake out the center of the ring. Ball lunges forward and lands a very nice left which makes Ford cover up giving ball a chance to go to work on the body again.
Fight gets going and both men come out the center of the ring quickly, Ford works from the southpaw side while Ball is an orthodox. Nick Ball is the smaller man and predictably stays compact but unafraid to charge forward.
Ball presses hard pushing Ford onto the ropes but a nice left uppercut to the body pushes Ball back.
Very nice four punch combination as the round ends from Ford.
Raymond Ford* vs. Nick Ball [WBA featherweight title]
Now we move on to the second fight on the bill as Raymond Ford defends his WBA featherweight title against Nick Ball. This is Ford's first title defense.
AND THE NEW: Willy Hutchinson wins by UD
The judges at ringside saw the fight as:
116-112
117-111
119-109
all for the winner by unanimous decision and now WBC Silver light heavyweight champion, Willy Hutchinson!
We have to see what the judges saw in the fight, but I gave Hutchinson eight rounds and that was being generous to Richards.
It's the 12th and final round here and on my card there's no way that Richards can win this Hutchinson is just too far ahead. However, the last couple of rounds have seen Richards come on very strong and he's done a lot of damage to Hutchinson. I think he needs a knockout to win but I wouldn't put it past him.
Hutchinson is back up on his toes trying perhaps to get a little bit of energy into those weary old legs, he tips and taps with both hands little short write double tap in a jab, nothing landing cleanly but just keeping Richards off balance.
As we come into the last minute Richards throws a big flailing overhand right, misses wildly. The blood is pouring from Hutchinson’s nose, which could very well be broken after those big heavy shots in the eleventh.
Richards is completely out of gas and as the bell goes, Hutchinson jumps up on the ropes sure that he has won. And I think I would agree with him.
We're in the 11th round now and both men look absolutely exhausted. Hutchinson opens up from the southpaw side and sticks a stiff jab into the snout of Richards. But Richards responds with a huge straight right!
Before he could get anything together another left stops his advance. Hutchinson has never been beyond the seventh round before, and while Richards has taken Bivol the distance, and even nearly won, that was four years ago.
Clubs at Richard's and lands are very nice left hook but as he tries to follow it with a big right Richards slips it and pokes a counter right hook into that damaged nose of Hutchinson.
Richards comes out and lets his hands go a little more freely and he lands a very nice right hand he starts working on the body which is what he should have done right from the beginning and comes back with another big left hook that just misses by inches.
Hutchinson seems to want to stand toe to toe and throw with Richards and he doesn't need to he's so far ahead.
Richards pounds away nothing really seems to hurt him he's taking a lot of shots on the way in and now both men look as if they punched themselves out halfway through the round.
With a minute left the ref calls time and goes have a word with Hutchinson it looks as if he's speaking to him about holding on. There's a bit of blood flowing from hutchinson's nose probably from that big right hand that landed at the beginning of the round Richards is now pounding away and landed some really heavy thumping shots. Hutchinson’s in real trouble!
Hutchinson turns it around and lands a left hand! Richards is all over the place wobbled badly! As the round ends it looks as if both men are a few seconds away from getting a knockout!
Ohh! Willie Hutchinson starts the round off with a leaping right hand that snaps Richard's head straight back!
Hutchinson picks up the pace a little bit. A lot of his shots are landing on the gloves and on the guard of Richards but it's still taking a toll on him and it's still catching the judges eyes the highest work rate is being done by Hutchinson.
As the shots land side to side Hutchinson switches from orthodox to southpaw back to orthodox again, and just rains shots from every angle on to Richards, who just has the look of a man bewildered and befuddled by what's going on in front of him.
Richards tries to swat he throws a couple of left hooks that miss wildly. He needs to figure a way to get into this fight and he lands a heavy right hand as if as a way to set himself into it he grabs on to Hutchinson and tries to land something else but he's just too slow to make Hutchinson pay!
Richards starts the round really nicely landing a huge right hand and now it's Hutchinson’s turn to hold on! The referee separates them and it seems to have fired Hutchinson up, he comes out letting his hands fly more freely.
Both fighters are looking heavily fatigued and Hutchinson lands a nice left hook that sends sweat flying across the announcing desk.
Ohh a very sharp left hook finds Richards chin as the clock winds down to the end of the round.
Richards is throwing single shots now little jabs and they are landing so it seems as if his hand speed has picked up a little bit. Or perhaps it could be as a result of Hutchinson being slower than previous and unable to get out of the way.
Hutchinson is still got some of his speed about him throwing a 1-2 and then dodging out of the way of what was coming back. A straight right hand catches Richards who still seems unwilling to let his hands fly.
Richards lands two really nice hard right hands to the body but Hutchinson just comes out dances around and lands a left of his own.
Hutchinson has been clowning a little bit. Amongst all of that switching stances he is also done a little bit of dancing and even turning his back on Richards but, and this is the big but, Richards has let it all go unpunished.
The pace looks a little slower now as perhaps Hutchinson expended a lot of energy in that last round. He seems to be plodding and just going through the motions. Richards has yet to establish himself but he's at least able to land a few shots here.
Richard's looks as if he's punching through treacle, just slow, his hands are not quick at all. He's perhaps a little bit confused perhaps a little bit tired. What is saving him right now for the moment is that Hutchinson looks every bit as slow Hutchinson is perhaps not quite punched himself out but certainly put himself in position where he needs a breather after that big flurry in round five.
Richardson is still switching from orthodox to southpaw still trying to throw foot feints, but is markedly slower than previous.
We're not even halfway through yet but I think it would be difficult to give Richards anything so far. The first round was fairly tight neither fighter really doing much but Hutchinson has dominated the following three.
Oh! Hutchinson dives in with a big straight ahead one-two that lands nice and flush. Richards doesn't look to be overmatched because he's still throwing back shots and none of the big eye-catching blows that he's eating seem to have hurt him. But he's just being swarmed by Hutchinson!
Hutchinson pushes forward lands a right hook, a straight left, a nice jab followed with a big right hand. Richards gets pushed back onto the ropes and finally ties him up.
Hutchinson is expanding a ton of energy here but Richards just looks like he has no idea what to do next.
The fourth round gets started and Richards really needs to dig down and find something he's so far been throwing straight jabs up top very few have gone down to the midsection. Richards is standing very tall straight up he looks slightly uncomfortable as he throws a double jab.
Hutchinson has switched again from orthodox to southpaw and Richards really should think about getting that left hook involved. Particularly as Hutchinson is on that southpaw side a stutter step to the left and bringing that hook around to the ribs could pay dividends or at the very least keep Hutchinson on the orthodox side.
As Hutchinson works around to orthodox and then switches to southpaw yet again Richards seems all out of sorts. He drops his hands and Hutchinson lands another nice right.
Hutchinson begins to showboat turning his back on Richards. So far this has all been one way traffic.
Hutchinson comes out dancing around throwing foot faint slipping side to side Richards has not yet found a steady inroad and Hutchinson has had a very good start.
Hutchinson switches to southpaw yet again he's uh seems to be using that switching side going from port to starboard as a way to sort of bamboozle his opponent. Whether or not it's working I can't say. But so far it's had the effect of, at the very least, keeping Richards at bay.
Ohh my word! Hutchinson lands a huge right hand! Richards took it well but my oh my that landed flush! What a brilliant start Hutchinson has had the first three rounds really have belonged to him.
The second round gets started and Hutchinson again comes out to the middle of the ring this time he swaps to southpaw as he comes out. He throws that quick jab with the right hand and then switches back around to orthodox landing a heavy one-two!
Richard gets him pushed back from off the ropes and Hutchinson switches back to southpaw eating a jab just as he tries to switch his stance. He needs to be careful about that.
Now Hutchinson switches back to orthodox and throws a good right cross that really catches Richards nicely! Unfazed by Richard slips in underneath the probing jab and lands a nice right hand of his own. Hutchinson is back onto the orthodox side and the two are circling each other as we enter the last half minute.
One more switch to southpaw for Hutchinson and the bell sounds to end the round.
Round one and we're off and Richard sprang out of his corner, really ready to sort of take on Hutchinson although the Scot has staked out the middle of the ring determined to force the Londoner to work around the edges.
Both men were orthodox end despite rushing out to the to the clash they've both been a little bit pensive in getting going. Probing jabs have been the order of the day. Hutchinson dives in with a nice jab landed and tries to get that backhand working but Richards ties him up nicely.
Very quick hands from Richards he lands a lovely little jab forces Hutchinson to change angles, which he does nicely landing his own left hook to stop any forward momentum.
Both fighters had some successes and the first round was pretty even.
Willy Hutchinson vs. Craig Richards [Light heavyweight]
The first bout of the evening is upon us! And we kick it off with two Brits as London's Craig Richards takes on Scotland's Willy Hutchinson. Richards pushed Bivol to his limits just a few years ago, but Hutchinson is the younger of the two. Should be a great contest!
This could be an amazing bout as Richards takes on Hutchinson. Both men have a really great pedigree.
The crowd is sparse but beginning to fill in nicely for the opening bout of the evening. One of the big complaints about fights in Saudi Arabia is the lack of any atmosphere any kind of sense that the fight fan public is part of the action. It is something that the Saudi royal family and officials have been working on to try to raise the level admitting more regular fight fans and attracting fight fans from around the world. British fans specifically are beginning to fly over in ever increasing numbers to see these bouts although American fans are still thin on the ground.
5v5 concept
Described as boxing's Ryder Cup, each "team" will be awarded points for a win, a knockdown, and a knockout and overall they will accumulate through the event.
Zhilei Zhang represents a career-defining moment for the Bronze Bomber with the end of the road a distinct possibility if Wilder loses. Read the whole story here.
Two Houses, both alike in dignity
Frank Warren is one of the stalwarts of boxing, a throwback to the old cloth. Rising out of the rough and tumble world of 1970s east London unlicensed fighting, he first came to prominence when he promoted a fight by one of his relatives, the legendary “Guv’nor” Lenny McLean.
He came to dominate British boxing over the following half century and has had some of the greatest names in boxing history under his Queensberry banner over the years. Great champions like Joe “the Pride of Wales” Calzaghe, Ricky “the Hitman” Hatton, “Prince” Naseem Hamed, Frank Bruno, Josh Warrington, Nigel Benn, Billy Joe Saunders, Chris Eubank, Amir Khan, and lately Tyson “the Gypsy King” Fury.
In boxing, you make a few friends, a few enemies, and a lot of rivalries. Perhaps Warren’s biggest rival is another east London boy, Barry Hearn. Coming out of the same cauldron that produced Warren, Hearn was perhaps the yin to Warren’s yang. Not so rough and tumble, Hearn was an accountant by trade who saw a business opportunity and took it. Along the way, some of the greatest fights in living memory were either Warren’s Queensberry, or Hearn’s Matchroom, rarely both at the same time.
That is why this 5v5 is so important. It is a throwback event to the days when differences were settled in the parking lot. It is almost Shakespearean. Montague vs Capulet, Hearn vs Warren.Two houses, both alike in dignity, in London where we lay our scene.
But Queensberry’s fortunes have been on the wane of recent years. Nobody will admit it of course, just as nobody wants to say that a formerly great champion is not what he used to be. Take Canelo Álvarez for example. He is still the king of the super middleweights, and is capable of mixing it with, and even outboxing, the biggest names in the division. But there are signs that his reign may not be eternal. Even those who soar with eagles must take heed of their waxy wings. And so it is with Frank Warren.
Tyson Fury has been a great name for Warren, but his inactivity has marred his legacy, and left him vulnerable to claims of a manicured record. Joe Joyce is another fighter who was meant to be the saviour of the Queensberry brand, the heir apparent to Fury’s crown. But two heavy knockout losses to Zhilei Zhang have seen him dropped to the second tier of world contenders.
Ever an astute promoter, Warren represents Zhang as well, and while Big Bang is definitely a huge jewel in the Queensberry crown, his advanced years means that his time in the spotlight will be short lived.
Perhaps the best hope for a future on the top stage for Queensberry is Joseph Parker, who has reinvented himself, the resurrected world champion who looks better with age.
And while the stable of Matchroom fighters looks to be deeper than Queensberry’s, there have been moves to indicate that the tide may be turning. Former undisputed super lightweight champion Chantelle Cameron fell out with the Hearns and defected to Warren’s ranks just weeks ago.
But as the 5v5 event nears, and old grudges bring about new mutinies, it would look like Queensberry may just be boxing off the back foot. For a wily champion like Frank Warren, however, that may turn out to be exactly where he wants to be.
Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang has an enormous size advantage over Deontay Wilder ahead of their 5v5 clash. Is the Bronze Bomber giving too much away? Read the article here.
The Full Card
Main Card
Zhilei Zhang vs. Deontay Wilder [Heavyweight]
Daniel Dubois vs. Filip Hrgovic [Heavyweight]
Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Austin Williams [Middleweight]
Dmitry Bivol* vs. Malik Zinad [WBA light heavyweight title]
Raymond Ford* vs. Nick Ball [WBA featherweight title]
Willy Hutchinson vs. Craig Richards [Light heavyweight]
The main undercard is set to get underway at 2pm ET / 11am PT.
Tale of the tape [Wilder - Zhang]
Deontay Wilder
Age: 38
Country: United States of America
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6ft 7in
Reach: 83”
Record: 43-3-1
Zhilei Zhang
Age: 41
Country: China
Stance: Southpaw
Height: 6ft 6in
Reach: 83”
Record: 26-2-1
Tale of the tape [Bivol - Zinad]
Dmitry Bivol
Age: 33
Country: Russia
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6ft 0in
Reach: 72”
Record: 22-0-0
Malik Zinad
Age: 30
Country: Libya
Stance: Orthodox
Height: 6ft 1in
Reach: 72”
Record: 22-0-0
WELCOME!!!
Welcome to Diario AS USA’s live coverage of the 5v5 clash between Frank Warren’s Queensberry and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
This is one of the biggest roller coaster rides in boxing. Originally slated to be an undisputed light heavyweight war between Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev with every belt on the line, Beterbiev suffered an injury in training and had to pull out of the event. Malik Zinad stepped in on short notice and the tone of the night changed.
Zinad is 22-0 and a valid contender but under the circumstances is widely seen as being a stepping stone for Bivol, a tune up for Beterbiev who is in the wings. And so the focus has shifted to the undercard, and there we find a matchup that is every bit as tasty.
A team boxing event will see long-time rivals Queensberry and Matchroom supply five of their best for bragging rights to the British boxing scene. In a surprise one-fight deal, Matchroom has signed Deontay Wilder who will face Zhilei Zhang in what is now the headline fight.
With deep roots in the underground London fight scene of the 1970s, these two houses, led by Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn, hold grudges long established. Hearn has inherited this rivalry from his father, Barry Hearn, who was the original founder of Matchroom.
In a Shakespearean event, these two will throw back to bygone days, when grudges were settled in the parking lot, each choosing a champion, or in this case five. Officially the undercard event, 5v5 is the best of what boxing is all about.