Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — Turki Alalshikh, Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority (GEA), has unveiled the details of an unprecedented boxing event, the 5 vs 5 a Riyadh Season Original, set to electrify audiences in Riyadh on June 1. This innovative format will feature top fighters from two of the boxing world's major promotional companies, Queensberry and Matchroom, competing in a unique team-based event.

The highlight of the Riyadh Season will be the "4 Crown Showdown," a historical bout between light heavyweight champions Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol. Taking place at the Kingdom Arena, this match will see both undefeated champions vying for supremacy with all world title belts at 175lbs at stake.

In addition to the marquee light heavyweight bout, the event will showcase a series of compelling matchups across different weight classes. The lineup includes a heavyweight clash between Daniel Dubois representing Queensberry and Filip Hrgovic for Matchroom, determining who will next contend for the IBF World Heavyweight title. Another heavyweight feature will see Queensberry's Zhilei Zhang facing Matchroom's Deontay Wilder, a former WBC world champion known for his powerful knockouts.

At featherweight, an anticipated 'fight of the year' candidate will occur between Queensberry’s Nick Ball and Matchroom’s reigning WBA World Featherweight champion Ray Ford. Meanwhile, a critical middleweight bout will present Queensberry's Hamzah Sheeraz against Matchroom’s Austin ‘Ammo’ Williams, with the winner set to earn a shot at the WBC World Middleweight title.

The light heavyweight division will also see action, with Queensberry’s Willy Hutchinson taking on Matchroom’s Craig ‘Spider’ Richards in what promises to be a technical showcase.

Turki Alalshikh expressed his enthusiasm about the event, stating, “The 5 vs 5 a Riyadh Season Original match is a standout event that embodies the spirit of Riyadh Season, featuring top-tier talent and fostering partnerships that bring unprecedented entertainment to our global audience.”

Frank Warren of Queensberry highlighted the significance of the event, saying, "Thanks to the vision of Turki Alalshikh, Riyadh has become a staple in the world boxing diary, offering spectacular events that showcase the prowess of our selected champions."

Eddie Hearn of Matchroom also praised the initiative, acknowledging the opportunity to feature some of the world’s top champions in this globally popular sport and thanking Alalshikh for the chance to participate in such a significant event in Saudi Arabia.