Weigh-In Results: 5vs5 Boxing Tournament

The 5vs5 boxing tournament fighters hit the scales Friday evening in Saudi Arabia, and all made weight with ease for Saturday’s Queensberry Promotions vs. Matchroom Boxing team event.

The teams of five fighters spread among four weight divisions 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.

Zhilei Zhang and Deontay Wilder on the Riyadh Season stage in Saudi Arabia on Friday evening.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

U.S. and U.K. fans can watch the tournament live on DAZN PPV, starting at 2 p.m. ET/11 a.m. PT on June 1. The cost in the US is $69.99.

See the 5vs5 Boxing Tournament weights below.

Wilder vs. Zhang Weights

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

Matchroom team captain Deontay Wilder of Tuscaloosa, Alabama (43-3-1, 42 KOs), the former WBC champion, came in 68.2 pounds lighter than his opponent, Zhilei Zhang of China (26-2-1, 21 KOs).

Wilder weighed in at 214.6 pounds, Zhang at 282.8 pounds. Wilder would also make the bridgerweight limit of 215 pounds. It signals Wilder is optimizing his speed against Zhang’s power. The southpaw Zhang is slower, and Wilder likely hopes to catch the big Chinese man with his southpaw killing right hand, still among the best in boxing.

Deontay Wilder appeared relaxed and in good condition on Friday.
Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

“I’ve been successful in the ring and more successful outside of the ring. I have seven kids that I love so much, and they love me back,” said Wilder.

“This could be the do-or-die moment for me. Boxing has taken me around the world. This could be the very end if it don’t go well for me. But I’m very confident in what I’m going to do Saturday night.”

Zhang said, “I sat down with my team. You will see. I think it’s a different Deontay Wilder. He was really hungry and destructive, but he’s an old soldier.”

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.

Hrgovic vs Dubois Weights

Filip Hrgovic and Daniel Dubois have a possible title fight ahead with a win Saturday. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Filip Hrgovic of Croatia (17-0, 14 KOs) finally gets on the road to a title fight Saturday, with the matchup against Daniel Dubois of England (20-2, 19 KOs) being sanctioned as an IBF interim heavyweight contest.

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.

The pair are evenly matched, with Dubois weighing 245.8 pounds and Hrgovic weighing 247.4 pounds. Neither man is showing any leniency.

“Let’s get down to business. Let’s see tomorrow,” said Hrgovic. “I believe I will smash him tomorrow.” Dubois, normally not a trash talker, let it rip. “I’m not here to fuck around. I’m here for war. Let’s go. I worked my balls off!”

Richards vs Hutchinson Weights

It's the faceoff we now expect between Willy Hutchinson and Craig Richards. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

It’s a fight for UK bragging rights between Craig Richards of London (18-3-1, 11 KOs) and 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. Richards weighed in at 174.2 pounds, and Willy Hutchinson weighed 174 pounds.

The pair engaged in their battering ram, head-to-head faceoff. Richards said, “We’ve seen all this before. Come tomorrow night, we’ll get the job done.”

Hutchinson thanked his family and friends who traveled to Saudi Arabia to see him. “Look at all these people here, what a platform to be on! Craig Richards, you better be ready for tomorrow night!”

Sheeraz vs Williams Weights

Hamzah Sheeraz and Austin Williams put up their undefeated records against each other. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

The middleweight fight on the card features  Queenberry team captain Hamzah Sheeraz of London (19-0, 15 KOs), and American Austin “Ammo” Williams of Houston (16-0, 11 KOs). A win opens many opportunities in a middleweight division crying out for a star to replace the likes of Canelo Alvarez and Gennadiy Golovkin. Sheeraz is ranked number one by the WBO, and Williams is ranked in the top five by three of the four sanctioning bodies. Sheeraz weighed in at 159.6 pounds, Williams at 159.4 pounds.

Williams wore a headdress to the ring, explaining it represented his grandfather, a Native American of Cherokee heritage who recently passed away.  “I’m ready to show my spirit come Saturday night. I have something to take, something that’s mine, something I’m ready to go get. It’s mine. I don’t care who it is, I don’t care where it’s at,” said Williams.

Austin Williams said the headdress honors his late grandfather. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

Shiraz said he didn’t make much of Williams’ words. “I’m extremely grateful to be where I am and tomorrow night I will still be undefeated. Doesn’t matter how big the occasion is, I don’t let it change me,” adding he doesn’t feel any extra pressure as the team captain.

Ball vs Ford Weights

Fans expect a featherweight firecracker between Raymond Ford and Nick Ball. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

This featherweight bout could steal Saturday’s Saudi show. WBA World Featherweight champion Raymond Ford of Newark (15-0-1, 8 KOs) is back in the ring just a few weeks after a sensational knockout victory against Nick Ball of Liverpool (19-0-1, 11 KOs), who made his own big impression with two late knockdowns to score a draw against WBC champion Rey Vargas last month.

Both men are risking their undefeated records. Nick Ball in at 125.8, Raymond Ford in at 125.4.

Ford said after the weigh-in, “I didn’t like that energy. What matters is what’s going to happen tomorrow.” Ball only said he appreciated getting back in the ring again.

See the current betting odds for Ford vs. Ball here.

Bivol vs Zinad Weights

Dmitry Bivol is a massive favorite against Malik Zinad for his WBA Light Heavyweight World Title, but he can't afford to stumble. Photo: Mark Robinson, Matchroom Boxing

WBA World Light Heavyweight champion Dmitriy Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) was scheduled to face his rival Artur Beterbiev on this card, but Beterbiev withdrew due to injury. Bivol remains on the card in a stay-busy fight against Malik Zinad 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. Bibol weighed in at 175 pounds event, Zinad at 174.2 pounds.

Bivol says facing an undefeated fighter gets his attention. “He never lost and he wants this fight, it means a good fight Saturday night.” Bivol says he isn’t thinking about anything after Saturday. “I’ve been in boxing more than 25 years. I can be focused on the opponent I have now, and we will see.”

Zinad said he was “feeling fantastic. Tomorrow is going to be crazy. My mom is here for the first time. Mom, I’m going to do it tomorrow!”  It will be the first time Zinad’s mother has seen him fight in 30 years. “I’m so happy for tomorrow. It’s my moment. I can’t wait, guys!”

The 5vs5 Boxing Tournament Rules

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 stand individually on their own outcomes, just like any single fight. In addition, a points system has been assigned to the result of each bout.

• 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 selected American heavyweight Deontay Wilder as team captain. Warren selected his undefeated middleweight, Hamzah Sheeraz, to represent Queensberry as team captain.

For example, 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.