Zhang Zheili promised to "BANG" the former long-reigning WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder, and he delivered on that promise by knocking out the former Olympian in the fifth round. This brutal knockout was the highlight reel finish to a dominant sweep on the 5v5 card, featuring five Matchroom fighters against five from Queensberry, all competing for the bragging rights of their millionaire promoters. The rules were simple: each win was worth one point, with knockouts and victories by the team captain earning double points.
Wilder, coming off a lackluster defeat to former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker, was Hearn's team captain and the last hope for scoring any points. Despite moments of success, Wilder's post-weigh-in speech exuded a loser mentality, as if he was predicting his own demise. The defeat led many fans to suggest that Wilder should retire, with some even implying he was a "talentless" heavyweight. While Wilder has relied on his power throughout his professional career, you don't simply earn an Olympic medal without any talent. As for Zhang, Warren even entertained the idea of a homecoming match in China for the new heavyweight star.
Undercard Results:
Nick Ball got his second shot at a title in Saudi, this time with the split decision in his favor, snatching Raymond Ford's newly acquired WBA super featherweight title via 115-113 Ford, 115-113 Ball, 115-113 Ball. In a fight-of-the-year contender, Ball gave Ford the same treatment he gave Rey Vargas a couple of months back, overwhelming the former champion from the opening bell. It took half the fight for Ford to find his rhythm, landing vicious punches in the championship rounds that made us think he would pull off another jaw-dropping late knockout victory.
Ball, however, remained unfazed by the hard punches and landed more of his own, before celebrating his name being called as the new super featherweight champion. Post-fight, Ford announced he'd be moving up to 130, and Luis Alberto "El Venado" Lopez took to Twitter to call out Ball, whose style clearly doesn’t duck any smoke.
"I should be two-time champion, but I'm champ now so it doesn't matter," Ball said. "My style is all action and putting pressure on. I did that well and it paid off."
Daniel Dubois secured the interim IBF heavyweight title with an eighth-round stoppage of Filip Hrgovic. The ringside doctor advised the referee to halt the contest due to cuts above both of Hrgovic's eyes.
Queensberry's team captain Hamzah Sheeraz handed Austin "Ammo" Williams his first defeat, stopping him in the 11th round to earn double points, plus two more for the knockout victory. This victory added 4 points to Queensberry's total, bringing the score to 6-0 over Matchroom and allowing Sheeraz to retain his WBC Silver Championship.
In the card opener, light-heavyweight contender Willy Hutchinson outscored Craig Richards in a unanimous decision, with scores of 119-109, 117-111, and 116-112
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