5 vs 5 Queensberry vs Matchroom preview: part 2

The days are ticking down to the eagerly awaited Queensberry Vs. Matchroom ‘5 Vs. 5’ card and 32Red continue their build up to the unique event. For the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook.

Yesterday, we looked at the light heavyweight clash between Willy Hutchinson and Craig Richards and Raymond Ford’s WBA featherweight title defence against Nick Ball. Check out yesterday’s blog for our breakdowns and predictions.

We have three fights left to preview.

• Queensberry’s Hamzah Sheeraz v Matchroom’s Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams
• Queensberry’s Daniel Dubois v Matchroom’s Filip Hrgovic
• Queensberry’s Zhilei Zhang v Matchroom’s Deontay Wilder

HAMZAH SHEERAZ (Queensberry) v AUSTIN ‘AMMO’ WILLIAMS (Matchroom)

Sheeraz wears the captain’s armband for Queensberry meaning that any points he scores for his team will be doubled. Frank Warren’s decision to put his trust in Sheeraz is a sure sign of the confidence he has in the 25-year-old.

Sheeraz, 19-0 (15 KO’s), has been in sensational form since moving to middleweight two years ago, reeling off five consecutive knockout victories which culminated in a devastating first round stoppage of Liam Williams in February. Slough’s Sheeraz – who trains in Los Angeles – stands 6ft 4in tall and uses his reach expertly.

Hs jab has become a serious weapon and as well as doing damage, he uses it to set up his equally dangerous right hand. Opponents who feel they will be able to bully Sheeraz by getting inside his long reach are in for a nasty surprise as he is equally happy and effective when fighting up close. Sheeraz is priced at 11/25.

Williams is an outstanding combination puncher

Williams is an unpredictable, explosive operator. The 28-year-old southpaw took some time away from the sport in 2021 to concentrate on his mental health. He has returned as a focused, determined, dangerous fighter.

Williams may not have the one punch power of Sheeraz but he is an outstanding combination puncher who commits to his attack and will know that he can improve his chances of victory by starting quickly and dragging Sheeraz into a fight before he can establish his jab. Williams is priced at 37/20.

The fight is a final eliminator for the WBC middleweight title and both men face the biggest test of their careers. This is an outstanding fight regardless of the ‘5 Vs. 5’ implications and given the styles on display, things could get moving quickly. The selection is Sheeraz to win by knockout after an exciting firefight. Sheeraz to win by knockout is available at 11/10.

DANIEL DUBOIS (Queensberry) v FILIP HRGOVIC (Matchroom)

Dubois, 20-2 (19 KO’s), is an explosive, heavy handed fighter capable of knocking anybody out. Still only 26 years old, Dubois has been involved in a series of big fights with mixed results. He blew through British level but came unstuck when the excellent Joe Joyce busted his eye socket. Dubois went away, rebuilt and got himself a shot at then unified heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk. Dubois acquitted himself well but was eventually stopped in the ninth round.

Dubois was faced with a make or break fight last December and dug deep to battle past Jarrell Miller, proving himself to be a fighter with the heart and desire to match his raw talent. Dubois is the outsider, available at 37/20.

Hrgovic, 17-0 (14 KO’s), has been touted as a future world champion for years. The Croatian won an Olympic bronze medal in 2016 and has been the mandatory challenger for the IBF title for two years. Hrgovic is as solid as it gets. He may not have stunning footwork, one punch power or blistering hand speed but he does everything to an exceptionally high standard.

Hrgovic is a superior talent

Hrgovic may not have a signature victory to his name just yet but has passed every test he has been given and is within touching distance of a world title fight and a series of clashes with the division’s biggest names. Hrgovic is priced at 21/50.

This is an extremely difficult fight to pick. Hrgovic is clearly a superior talent but has yet to put everything together on the same night whereas Dubois has his faults but is a fighter on the rise and carries the heavier artillery. This looks like a fight which won’t go the distance and Hrgovic is the selection to win between rounds 7 and 9 at 17/4.

ZHILEI ZHANG (Queensberry) v DEONTAY WILDER (Matchroom)

Zhang, 26-2-1 (21 KO’s), has christened this fight as ‘Chinese Power Vs. Alabama Power’ and he couldn’t have put it any better. He and Wilder may be the biggest single punchers in the heavyweight division. Interestingly, Joseph Parker has boxed both Zhang and Wilder and says that Zhang is the bigger puncher.

The southpaw is 41 years old and does slow down as fights go on but is extremely dangerous. In his last three fights he has stopped the previously rock solid Joe Joyce twice and dropped Parker twice despite losing a decision. Zhang was also very unlucky to lose to Filip Hrgovic back in 2022. Zhang is priced at 8/13.

Wilder, 43-3-1 (42 KO’s), may have been strangely out of character when Joseph Parker comprehensively outboxed him last December but ‘The Bronze Bomber’ remains a must see attraction and is Matchroom’s captain for the night.

Wilder has incredible levels of resilience

Wilder reigned as the WBC heavyweight champion for years and although he failed to beat Tyson Fury in any of their three meetings, he dropped Fury four times and hurt him on numerous occasions. At his best, Wilder is electrifying and arguably the biggest puncher the heavyweight division has ever seen.

Wilder has incredible levels of resilience and heart. He can be hurt and outboxed but never stops believing that he possesses the power to turn the fight around in a split second. Wilder is the outsider, he is available at 13/10.

Anything could happen. Both fighters have the ability to knock each other out at any moment with a single shot. Zhang looked better in his last performance than Wilder but he also has weaknesses and if the fight goes past six rounds, he will struggle to stay out of the way of Wilder’s power shots. This may be a tense stand-off but at some point, it will explode. This is a coin toss so let’s look for value. Wilder within the first three rounds is priced at 7/1.

Five excellent fights and five difficult decisions; but when all is said and done, we are left with the following accumulator.

Craig Richards – Rounds 7-9 @ 23/4
Nick Ball – Round 10-12 @ 17/1
Hamzah Sheeraz Knockout @ 11/10
Filip Hrgovic – Rounds 7-9 @ 17/4
Deontay Wilder – Rounds 1-3 @ 7/1

If that one comes in, you’re looking at a very tasty return…

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