In a thrilling night of boxing in Riyadh, Zhilei Zhang delivered a stunning fifth-round knockout to Deontay Wilder, capping off a perfect 5-0 sweep for Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions against Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
Zhang’s explosive right hook sent Wilder sprawling to the canvas, ending the bout decisively. The Chinese heavyweight had already knocked Wilder off balance with a powerful blow moments earlier and closed in to finish the job. Wilder struggled throughout the match, unable to find his rhythm or counter Zhang’s relentless pressure.
The fight took place at Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Arena, where Zhang’s victory crowned an exceptional evening for Warren. The night began with Willy Hutchinson defeating Craig Richards on points, scoring 116-112, 117-111, and 119-109, giving Team Warren an early lead.
Next, Nick Ball claimed the WBA World Featherweight title by narrowly beating Ray Ford via split decision, with scores of 113-115, 115-113, and 115-113. Hamzah Sheeraz followed up with an 11th-round knockout of Ammo Williams in their middleweight eliminator bout, further solidifying Queensbury’s dominance.
Dmitry Bivol maintained his unbeaten record, extending it to 23-0 with his first knockout since 2018, defeating Malik Zinad. The night’s penultimate fight saw Daniel Dubois take the interim IBF heavyweight title from Filip Hrgovic with an eighth-round stoppage, inflicting severe cuts above both of Hrgovic’s eyes.
Despite Wilder’s efforts to energize himself at the start of the fourth round by pounding his chest, he failed to land significant blows on Zhang. The Bronze Bomber’s attempt to turn the tide was thwarted by Zhang’s superior tactics and power. The fifth round saw Wilder spun around by a right hand before a final hammer blow from the 41-year-old Zhang sent him crumpling to the floor.
Frank Warren’s Queensbury team walked away with bragging rights over Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom, thanks to their clean sweep in this unique 5 vs. 5 event. The victory was celebrated as a significant achievement for Warren, highlighting the strength and skill of his fighters on an international stage.
As the dust settles on this extraordinary night in Riyadh, Zhang’s knockout of Wilder will be remembered as the highlight of a series of compelling bouts that showcased the best of boxing talent from Queensbury Promotions.
