Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Fight updates and undercard results as Queensberry thrash Matchroom
Re-live updates after Queensberry’s Zhilei Zhang knocked out Deontay Wilder, capping off a thrashing of Matchroom in Riyadh
Zhilei Zhang knocked out Deontay Wilder in the fifth round on Saturday, as Queensberry thrashed Matchroom at a unique event in Saudi Arabia.
The card in Riyadh pitted Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom against Frank Warren’s company, with each promoter picking a five-man team.
American Wilder, a former world heavyweight champion, was Hearn’s captain but suffered a fifth-round KO by China’s Zhang, who capped off a dominant showing from his team.
Zhang, 41, spun around Wilder with a right hook then folded the 38-year-old with another at the Kingdom Arena. Wilder barely beat the referee’s count, but the fight was waved off as the “Bronze Bomber” staggered around.
Earlier in the night, Queensberry captain Hamzah Sheeraz stopped Austin Williams, Daniel Dubois beat Filip Hrgovic by TKO, Nick Ball dethroned WBA featherweight champion Ray Ford, and Willy Hutchinson easily outpointed Craig Richards. Those results, including extra points for captains and knockouts, led to a 10-0 win for Queensberry.
Furthermore, Dubois’s victory claimed him the IBF interim heavyweight title and seemed to set up a September clash with Anthony Joshua. Elsewhere on the card, Dmitry Bivol retained the WBA light-heavyweight belt by stopping Malik Zinad.
Re-live updates and see all results from the event below.
Daniel Dubois: ‘Many things make up a heavy hitter – starting with who your parents are’
Major call made on Oleksandr Usyk’s undisputed status ahead of Tyson Fury rematch
Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson fight postponed due to heavyweight legend’s health scare
Zhilei Zhang knocks out Deontay Wilder as Queensberry thrash Matchroom in 5 vs 5 event
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Round six
Both men look a little fatigued, and it’s showing in the technique of each heavyweight. Hrgovic and Dubois are frequently putting themselves off balance when they throw.
Good footwork by Dubois; he steps back, and again, to avoid Hrgovic’s output, then he fires back with well-timed jabs.
Hrgovic lands a short left cross now, though, at close range. Dubois grabs the Croatian and looks like he’s going for a double-leg takedown!
He lets go and pops off jabs. This has become a war of attrition.
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Round five
Dubois stalks Hrgovic. He lands a couple of nice jabs, but Hrgovic responds with a cross.
Dubois with a couple of his own right straights. A jab jolts back the head of Hrgovic.
Dubois strafes to his left and evades a cross, but Hrgovic eventually lands an uppercut, and Dubois holds.
They separate, and Hrgovic finds the mark with a mean cross and a grazing uppercut.
A wild end to the round, as both men throw caution to the wind and land a few overhand rights!
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Round four
Dubois is sharp with the jab early in this round. He corners Hrgovic but struggles for accuracy in that space.
Hrgovic gets free and lands a short right cross off the break of a clinch.
One-two is on point for Hrgovic. Two very heavy jabs by Dubois, who then windmills a right overhand and misses.
He tries another and gets closer this time. Another spell in which both heavyweights land with both hands.
Clean cross by Hrgovic. Snapping jab from Dubois.
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Round three
Dubois backs up Hrgovic and lands a skimming cross. Good footwork to step back as Hrgovic tries a one-two.
A swiping left hook lands for Dubois now, as Hrgovic leans back. The Croatian gets off a one-two, catching Dubois on the end of it.
Hrgovic is dripping blood from a cut around his right eye. Both men are landing right now.
Crosses connect for both men.
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Round two
Another right cross lands for Hrgovic. Now a left hook. And another cross. Dubois with his own cross.
Hrgovic with another of his own! This is a very high pace. Surely this won’t last long...
Left hook by Dubois. Overhand right by Hrgovic. Double-jab, one-two by Hrgovic, who adds a hook.
A jab by Dubois sends shivers through Hrgovic! Then a good hook...
Clean cross by Dubois, who is finding the mark with increasing frequency. But Hrgovic digs to the body with a left hook.
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Round one
The IBF interim heavyweight title is on the line here. Oleksandr Usyk, who stopped Dubois in August, holds the official belt – and all the major heavyweight gold, in fact – but Anthony Joshua is likely next for the winner of this bout.
Both heavyweights stand orthodox. Some decent jabs for Hrgovic early on. Dubois with a hard one of his own.
Dubois connects cleanly with two right crosses. He keeps going to the well with it. Dubois with a left hook.
Both men land jabs simultaneously. Another heavy jab by Dubois, then an overhand right.
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Next up, Matchroom’s Filip Hrgovic fights Daniel Dubois of Queensberry, as the 5 vs 5 resumes.
Hrgovic and the Briton previously sparred together, and the unbeaten Croatian has taken a lot of confidence from those rounds...
Check out this week’s exclusive interview with Dubois:
Daniel Dubois: ‘Many things make a heavy hitter – starting with who your parents are’
Exclusive interview: The Briton on fighting Oleksandr Usyk ‘twice’ in one night, needing to take Filip Hrgovic ‘apart’, and a potential clash with Anthony Joshua
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Round six
Bivol jabs to the body. He bides his time then steps through with a cross!
Jab and left hook now... Zinad with a couple of decent jabs himself.
OH! A huge left hook from Bivol, then a barrage of follow-up lefts and rights! And the referee steps in, with Zinad cornered!!
Bivol screams! A long-awaited finish for him – his first in six years!
Dmitry Bivol def. Malik Zinad via sixth-round TKO (2:06).
Turki Al-Sheikh confirms that Bivol will face Beterbiev in Riyadh on 12 October.
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Round five
Bivol continues to win the battle of jabs, but a cross snaps back the Russian’s head!
It only spurs him on to come forward, and he shows off better defence now... The way he can repeatedly block then land in quick exchanges...
Wilder vs Zhang LIVE: Updates from Matchroom vs Queensberry fight card
Round four
Bivol is edging forward, showing off superior timing to Zinad.
Someone in Zinad’s corner is literally just screaming... on repeat...
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