‘My last chance’ -Matchroom 5 vs 5 card

ByEurosport

Updated 15/04/2024 at 21:36 GMT

Former WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will return to the ring on June 1 to take on Chinese giant Zhilei Zhang. Wilder and Zhang are part of a Queensberry-Matchroom 5v5 card which will see five boxers from each promoter go head-to-head before the highly-anticipated Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol fight which will decide who is the undisputed world light-heavyweight champion.Zhilei Zhang faces off with Deontay Wilder during the 5v5 press conference

Image credit: Getty Images

Deontay Wilder will take on Zhilei Zhang in a heavyweight clash on a blockbuster Queensberry-Matchroom 5 vs 5 undercard ahead of Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol.

But joining them are five Queensberry fighters and five from Matchroom Sport on a star-studded card.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has selected Wilder (43-3-1) as his captain ahead of his fight against Zhang (26-2-1) while Queensberry’s Frank Warren has selected Hamzah Sheeraz as his captain.

“I’ve been through a lot,” the 38-year-old American said at a press conference in London on Monday.

“I’ve had to regroup and thing don’t just change overnight. You have to keep working and keep pushing until you get what you want.

“I’m at this point in time where I’m narrowing it down. Come the night of the fight we will see if I’ve got it or not. This fight I’m holding it down as my last dance, my last chance.

“That’s what I’m taking it accordingly as. I’m just ready to do what I’m known to do. To be the Wilder I am.

“I lost my love and passion for this business. I lost my hunger for so many different reasons, but now I’m in an opportunity where people love the wildness of Wilder.”

A score system has been devised to determine the winner between the battle of the rival UK-based boxing promoters.

Two points will be awarded for a stoppage win, one for a decision win and points will be doubled for captains.

Nick Ball and American world champion Ray Ford will go head-to-head for the WBA world featherweight championship.

WBC silver and commonwealth champion Sheerez, who has won his last 13 fights with stoppages, takes on USA’s Austin Williams which is being recognised as a final eliminator for the WBC world middleweight title.

Former British champion and WBA world title challenger Craig Richards will face former world amateur champion Willy Hutchinson in a light-heavyweight bout.

TNT Sports presents the premium live sports rights previously carried by BT Sport including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Gallagher Premiership Rugby, Investec Champions Cup, EPCR Challenge Cup, MotoGP, Cricket, UFC, Boxing and WWE. The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination. You can also watch TNT Sports through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.