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

Two of British boxing's biggest promotional organisations, Queensberry and Matchroom, are set to go head-to-head for a second time later this year and we take a look at five potential fights that could feature as part of the bumper bill.

In March promoter Eddie Hearn revealed to The Ring that he and rival promoter Frank Warren had submitted their picks for the next installment of Queensberry v Matchroom.

If you’re unfamiliar with the 'five v five' term, let’s take you back to Riyadh in June 2024.

Boxing dealmaker His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh, had brought Hearn and Warren out from the promotional cold war and into the warmth and riches of Saudi temperatures and millions.

Alalshikh insisted that the UK’s leading promoters would work together and compete against each other - the concept was simple, Hearn and Warren could pick five fighters to represent their respective companies. They would also be given two weight classes each to pick with His Excellency choosing the fifth.

Points would be awarded for a win and bonus points could be collected if a fight was won inside the distance. Meanwhile, the team captains would score double.

What played out was a whitewash, a Sunday league hammering from Warren... 10-0 to the Queensberry team led by captain Hamzah Sheeraz.

For the sequel Matchroom's Hearn wants revenge and will no doubt look to improve on his selections that let him down badly last summer.

With that being said how could the second staging of the event look?

Would any of last year’s participants return for another duel in the desert or will there be brand new line-ups?

We take a look at the five potential bouts...

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

A rematch of their dire 2018 contest when Anthony Joshua added a third world title to his collection of belts.

Now, however, there is a strong argument to suggest this could be an edge of the seat clash.

AJ has a gung-ho mentality nowadays while the bang in-form Joseph Parker risks more on the front foot when opportunities present themselves.

The New Zealander, who has been superb in dispatching of Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole, would have to be financially rewarded to risk his WBO mandatory position though.

Light-Heavyweight
Anthony Yarde (Queensberry) v Callum Smith (Matchroom)

These two powerful light-heavyweights have often been linked to fighting each other but world title aspirations have got in the way.

With unified champion Dmitry Bivol set to run it back for a third time against Artur Beterbiev, the two Brits will need competitive action while they wait for another shot.

The spanner in the works is WBC champion David Benavidez who says he is targeting a fight against either of Callum Smith or Anthony Yarde as a first defence.

Middleweight
Denzel Bentley (Queensberry) v Austin 'Ammo' Williams (Matchroom)

After last year’s disappointing defeat to Hamzah Sheeraz, this would be another opportunity for “Ammo” Williams to prove he belongs on the world stage.

Denzel Bentley, the WBO's number one contender, wants another shot at a world title but in the meantime this would be the perfect fight to keep him active, motivated and rewarded.

You also sense he'd absolutely relish the chance to represent Queensberry on such a stage.

Lightweight
Mark Chamberlain (Queensberry) v Joe Cordina (Matchroom)

Two men who need to breathe life into their careers are Mark Chamberlain and Joe Cordina.

Chamberlain, a favourite of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, lost his shine when Josh Padley got the better of him last September.

Welsh star Cordina, meanwhile, had hoped to face Shakur Stevenson earlier this year in a Riyadh Season event but the plans fell through leaving him in real need of a significant fight.

This could well be it...

Super-Featherweight
Leigh Wood (Queensberry) v Josh Warrington (Matchroom)

A re-run of a 2024 domestic classic when Leigh Wood overcame a slow start to wear down ‘The Leeds Warrior’ in round seven.

It wasn’t without its controversy, however, with Josh Warrington disputing the stoppage at the time.

Both men have potentially one or two fights left in their memorable careers, and while they may be past their best there's no doubt that their styles would gel once again to give fight fans another all-action thriller.