Queensberry v Matchroom 2 - Five potential fights for proposed summer card

After Queensberry swept up in last year's inaugural five fight head-to-head with Matchroom, we take a look at five blockbuster bouts that could feature on Riyadh Season's 2025 bill of action after Turki Alalshikh confirmed plans for a second Saudi summer showdown.

2024 signified an undoubted shift in the boxing world as the continued influence of Saudi Arabia, and in particular Alalshikh, ensured that the best fights possible were made.

In turn, fight fans were rewarded for their patience having seen their loyalty to the sport tested because of promotional differences, fighters protecting unbeaten records and those blockbuster bouts coming in remarkably short supply.

One particular highlight from the past calendar year was Riyadh Season's inaugural five versus five event, which pitted Frank Warren's Queensberry against Eddie Hearn's Matchrrom stable.

This, once and for all, proved the promotional cold war in the UK was over, and subsequently allowed two of British boxing's most high-profile promoters to pit their wits against each other.

Of course, it proved a landslide victory for Team Queensberry, with Willy Hutchinson, Hamzah Sheeraz, Nick Ball, Daniel Dubois and Zhilei Zhanfg all reigning supreme in the Middle East for Warren.

During the colossal 'Last Crescendo' card, Alalshikh announced that the wheels were in motion for the two promotions juggernauts to lock-horns once more, but the big question is who could we expect to see in the second offering of this unique bill?

We take a look at five fights that could make the cut...

Queensberry v Matchroom 2 - Potential Fights

Which fights could take place on Queensberry v Matchroom 2?

Super-Featherweight: Ryan Garner (Queensberry) v Josh Warrington (Matchroom)

Ryan Garner (16-0, 8 KOs) v Josh Warrington (31-4-1, 8 KOs)

When Josh Warrington left his gloves in the ring following his loss to Anthony Cacace last year, it was the traditional sign that the boxer had retired.

But as Tyson Fury will attest to, boxing and retirements don’t always work out, so don't be surprised to see the Leeds man reverse his decision and jump back inside the ring once again!

Two consecutive losses have seen him plummet down the pecking order on the world scene, while the unbeaten Garner is undoubtedly on an upward trajectory.

Should the Southampton boxer become European champion om Bournemouth this weekend, then he could be tempted to put that on the line against a bigger name opponent in a bid to elevate himself higher up the food chain.

Somebody like Warrington, a former world champion, would be perfect.

Their styles would also blend and make for a terrific contest. 

Middleweight: Hamzah Sheeraz (Queensberry) v Liam Smith (Matchroom)

Hamzah Sheeraz (21-0-1, 17 KOs) v Liam Smith (33-4-1, 20 KOs)

Should Liam Smith get past Aaron McKenna in April, then the veteran will look to build on the momentum he has lost after beating Chris Eubank Jr in early 2023.

Now at middleweight, the former super-welterweight champion isn’t one to shy away from a fight and would possibly see Hamzah Sheeraz as the ideal foe.

Sheeraz was well fancied to beat Carlos Adames and capture the WBC Middleweight world title in February, but was exceptionally lucky to be awarded a split draw to just about preserve his unbeaten professional record.

The Queensberry man knows he has to bounce back in style however, and fighting, and beating, somebody of the calibre of Smith could be the ideal stepping stone to capturing world honours later in the year.

Heavyweight: Derek Chisora (Queensberry) v Dillian Whyte (Matchroom Wildcard)

Derek Chisora (36-13, 23 KOs) v Dillian Whyte (31-3, 21 KOs)

How about this trilogy bout after two brutal modern day heavyweight classics in 2016 and 2018.

Everything about this fight points to another fight of the year contender between two men who would go hell for leather at each other in a bid for success in Saudi Arabia.

Chisora will fight at least one more time before calling it a day and whilst he is chasing that world title opportunity, he may have to bide his time a little if he is to bring the curtain down in a bout with championship gold on the line.

Whyte has been mooted as his potential last dance partner for the spirited and dogged blue-riband division campaigner, and with Eddie Hearn having previously worked Whyte in the past, maybe, just maybe, they could reacquaint themselves once again to make this fight happen on this card.

Chisora, you'd think, would love nothing more than to win one final war against the man who bested him on the two previous occasions. 

Heavyweight: Joseph Parker (Queensberry) v Anthony Joshua (Matchroom)

Joseph Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) v Anthony Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs)

Joseph Parker and Anthony Joshua... two men at similar, yet contrasting, stages of their careers.

Many have written two-time heavyweight champion AJ off after his devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, while former WBO champion of the world Parker is in the form of his life after beating Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole.

Joshua wants to fight again but no-one knows who against.

New Zealander Parker may have to be even more patient for a second world title shot so while they both wait in the wings, why not make this rematch happen seven years on from their first fight in Cardiff.

The first may not have been a classic, but, given the situation of both fighters right now, this boasts all the ingredients of a far more enthralling affair.

Light-Heavyweight: Dmitry Bivol (Matchroom) v Artur Beterbiev (Queensberry Wildcard) 3

Undisputed light-heavyweight championship Dmitry Bivol (24-1, 12 KOs) v Artur Beterbiev (21-1, 20 KOs)

The first instalment of Artur Beterbiev v Dmitry Bivol was scheduled to take place on the first Queensberry v Matchroom card last year, only for injury to force Beterbiev to withdraw.

Since then, the two men have fought twice proving they are, by far, the best 175lbs campaigners on the planet.

Bivol's recent success on the 'Last Crescendo' card in February means the score is delicately poised at 1-1, and all signs are pointing towards a trilogy bout in the future.

Beterbiev, the challenger, certainly wants it on the back of his first professional defeat, and Bivol too would surely want to put his titles on the line for the first time against a fighter who has previously proven to be his match.

'His Excellency' Turki Alalshikh most certainly boasts the power and wealth to ensure the rubber match between two of the sport's all-time pound-for-pound greats does take place, and what a stage to witness it on - the second coming of Queensberry v Matchroom.