5vs5 Boxing Tournament: How Does It Work?

Professional boxing offers a new twist on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with the first 5v5 team boxing tournament.

Rivals Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions and Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing fielded teams of five fighters spread among four weight divisions who will go head-to-head for team bragging rights – and a nice $3 million prize for the winning team in addition to their purses, courtesy of their patron, Turki Alalshikh, who heads up Riyadh Season.

U.S. and U.K. fans can watch the tournament live on DAZN PPV on June 1, starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT.

5vs5 Boxing Tournament Takes Over Card

Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol at their April 29 press conference to announce their undisputed World Light Heavyweight Title fight in Saudi Arabia, which has now been postponed. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

The five fights were originally conceived as the undercard to the highly anticipated light heavyweight unification showdown between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitriy Bivol. However, after Beterbiev suffered a knee injury, the fight was rescheduled, and the tournament is now taking center stage.

It’s a blessing in disguise for boxing fans. While we await Beterbiev vs. Bivol later this year, fans can focus on a new format for professional boxing with exciting potential.

After years of animosity going back a generation, promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn are working together. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

The biggest surprise at the heart of the unexpected format is the promoters going head-to-head. For many years, Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions and Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing were rivals who went more than a decade without speaking. They began working together as a necessity to make last year’s “Day of Reckoning” card possible.

While the animosity has faded, the rivalry is fueling the promoters' competitive natures on behalf of their teams. And the notion of winning a nice purse surely doesn’t hurt.

At Thursday’s final news conference, Hearn and Warren delivered motivational speeches to their teams.

“You five, take this by the scruff of the neck, take it to this lot and you fight with all your heart,” said Hearn. “You chase your dreams. On Saturday night we shall be victorious, without any question.”

“In your dreams,” sniped Warren. But the pair delivered their barbs with a smile. Everyone rides in this format courtesy of Saudi money.

How Does the 5vs5 Format Work?

The 5vs5 teams during Thursday's Media Day event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia ahead of the fight this weekend. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren were both given the chance to pick two weight classes for the card, as was Turki Alalshikh, who heads up Riyadh Season.

Warren selected the heavyweight and middleweight divisions, Hearn chose the light heavyweight and featherweight divisions, and Alalshikh added a second heavyweight fight.

These five fights will all have individual outcomes, just like any standard sanctioned fight on a traditional fight card. In addition, a points system has been assigned to each bout's outcome.

• Two points are awarded for a knockout victory
• One point is awarded for a win decided on the judges’ scorecards.
• Draws receive no points.
• Two of the bouts featuring the team captains will score double points for the knockout or decision victory.

Eddie Hearn with his Matchroom 5vs5 Boxing Tournament team: Raymond Ford, Deontay Wilder, Filip Hrgovic, Austin Williams and Craig Richards. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Eddie Hearn selected American heavyweight Deontay Wilder as team captain. If Wilder beats Zhilei Zhang by decision, he will win two team points. If Wilder wins by knockout, Team Matchroom will be awarded four points.

The Queensberry 5vs5 Boxing Tournament team: Daniel Dubois, Zhilei Zhang, Nick Ball, Hamzah Sheeraz, and Willy Hutchinson with Frank Warren. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Warren selected his undefeated middleweight, Hamzah Sheeraz, to represent Queensberry as team captain. Sheeraz has the same opportunity for double points in a knockout or decision win against Austin Williams.

Bivol Staying Busy Against Minad

Dmitry Bivol will stay active with a fight against relative unknown Malik Zinad Saturday, with Bivol's WBA Light Heavyweight at stake. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

While Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) will wait to face his rival Beterbiev, he remains on the card in a stay-busy fight. He will face undefeated Zalik Minad of Libya (22-0. 16 KOs) who fights out of Malta.

This bout is not included in the 5vs5 team event. Bivol is a massive -2,500 favorite, and Zinad is a +1,200 underdog.

“This fight is going to be more blood than my last fight,” promised Malik.

“He’s hungry, he believes in himself. And it makes me more excited to fight him,” said Bivol. “He’s never lost, and it makes me more excited again… I hope I will keep my belts and move forward.”

The 5vs5 Queensberry vs Matchroom Matchups

Wilder vs. Zhang, heavyweights

Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang are in a must-win fight. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Deontay Wilder of Tuscaloosa, Alabama (43-3-1, 42 KOs), the former WBC champion, hopes to revive his career against Zhilei Zhang of China (26-2-1, 21 KOs), who trains in New Jersey. Hearn selected Wilson as his team captain, betting on a knockout win to maximize his points for the team.

Zhang has never been stopped, but with so much on the line, no one expects this fight to go the distance.

Both Wilder and Zhang are coming off losses to Joseph Parker of New Zealand. The stakes couldn’t be higher, as the winner remains viable in a hot heavyweight division, while the other will likely drop into a gatekeeper role – or retire.

“I’m looking forward to proving I’ve still got the juice. I’m going to deliver come Saturday night, I can’t wait,” promised Wilder. “I must deliver. It’s do or die. I got a warrior mindset; I got a warrior heart. I’m willing to die in the ring.

“He’s the Bronze Bomber for a reason, but I think the Bomber’s out of ammo now because he’s fighting Big Bang,” said Zhang.

Hrgovic vs Dubois, heavyweights

A title fight against Anthony Joshua is the real prize for Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Filip Hrgovic of Croatia (17-0, 14 KOs) has been biding his time while waiting for a title fight, scoring a first-round knockout over the hapless Daniel DeMori last December. Daniel Dubois of England (20-2, 19 KOs) revived his fortunes after a tenth-round knockout win over Jarrell Miller on the same card.

Now, should current unified champion Oleksandr Usyk be stripped of the belt, the winner could become the IBF heavyweight champion and will likely take on Anthony Joshua for the full title sometime next year.

Richards vs Hutchinson, light heavyweights

Willy Hutchinson and Craig Richards faceoff Thursday ahead of their light heavyweight fight on Saturday. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

In an all-UK fight, Craig Richards of London (18-3-1, 11 KOs) returns to the ring after 21 months off to prove he’s still a contender in the division against Willy Hutchinson of Scotland (17-1, 13 KOs). It’s a classic crossroads fight for the 33-year-old veteran and hungry 25-year-old.

Sheeraz vs Williams, middleweights

Hamzah Sheeraz and Austin Williams hope to become the faces of the middleweight division. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

The middleweight division is struggling during a changing of the guard. Both Hamzah Sheeraz of London (19-0, 15 KOs), who is the Queensberry team captain, and American Austin “Ammo” Williams of Houston (16-0, 11 KOs) would like to announce themselves as the next face of the division. Sheeraz is ranked number one by the WBO, and Williams is ranked in the top five by three of the four sanctioning bodies.

Both have undefeated records. Williams is coming off a knockout win, and Sheeraz is riding a five-fight KO streak. It’s unlikely this fight will go the distance, and it could deliver big points for Queensberry.

Ball vs Ford, featherweights

Nick Ball and Raymond Ford are sure to produce featherweight fireworks Saturday in Saudi Arabia for the WBA World Featherweight title. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Everyone loves a heavyweight showdown, but knowledgeable fans know this featherweight bout could steal the show. WBA World Featherweight champion Raymond Ford of Newark (15-0-1, 8 KOs) pulled out a last-second victory with a knockout win over Otabek Kholmatov last month.

Ford hopes to ride the momentum against Nick Ball of Liverpool (19-0-1, 11 KOs), who had to settle for a draw against WBC champion Rey Vargas last month. Ball scored two knockdowns against Vargas in the fight.

Just weeks after their respective breakout performances, they’re putting up their undefeated records on the line. Ford has the better boxing skills and is the favorite, but not by much. Both are willing to bang when called for. On this massive stage, neither Ball nor Ford can afford to let this opportunity slip away.