Queensberry v Matchroom: How does it work, scoring system, teams & captains explained

As the eyes of the boxing world hone in on Saudi Arabia this weekend for the unique Queensberry v Matchroom head-to-head, we take a look at how the scoring system will work and explain how the winning promotional team will be determined.

Queensberry v Matchroom - Scoring System

How will Queensberry v Matchroom work?

When rumours initially began to circulate regarding a potential Queensberry v Matchroom head-to-head, many had expected the winning team to be determined by the number of winning fighters they possessed from the five scheduled bouts.

However, that will not be the case.

Instead, decision-makers have adopted a new approach, with the following scoring system in place:

• 2 Points - KO/TKO victory
• 1 Point - Decision victory
• 0 Points - Draw / Defeat

This approach means that one of the teams could, in theory, provide three winners from the five scheduled fights, yet still lose the head-to-head because of a lower accumulation of points.

There is also the added caveat that 'Team Captains' will be eligible to receive double points in their respective matches, meaning that maximum number of points that a single team can score is 12.

Queensberry v Matchroom - Weight classes

How were the weight classes determined for Queensberry v Matchroom?

Promoters Frank Warren, of Queensberry, and Eddie Hearn, of Matchroom, were each invited to select two weight-classes that they would like to be included in the 5 v 5 line-up.

Warren selected the 'heavyweight' and 'middleweight' divisions as his picks, whilst Heard opted for 'featherweight' and 'light-heavyweight'.

The fifth weight class was decided by His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh, who went for a second 'heavyweight' bout.

Each promoter then selected a fighter for all five fights, with the confirmed fight night schedule then officially being confirmed at a huge press conference earlier this year.

Queensberry v Matchroom - Teams & Captains

Which fighters will be representing Queensberry and Matchroom?

Frank Warren selected the following five fighters to make up his Queensberry team:

• Zhilei Zhang (Heavyweight)
• Daniel Dubois (Heavyweight)
• Willy Hutchinson (Light-heavyweight)
• Hamzah Sheeraz (Middleweight)
• Nick Ball (Featherweight)

Eddie Hearn selected the following five fighters to make up his Matchroom team:

• Deontay Wilder (Heavyweight)
• Filip Hrgovic (Heavyweight)
• Craig Richards (Light-heavyweight)
• Austin 'Ammo' Williams (Middleweight)
• Raymond Ford (Featherweight)

Confirmed fight card for Queensberry v Matchroom 5v5:

• 12 x 3 minute heavyweight contest
  Deontay Wilder (M) v Zhilei Zhang (Q)
  
  
• 12 x 3 minute heavyweight contest
  Filip Hrgovic (M) v Daniel Dubois (Q)
  
  
• 12 x 3 minute middleweight contest
  Hamzah Sheeraz (Q) v Austin 'Ammo' Williams (M)
  
  
• 12 x 3 minute WBA featherweight title contest
  Raymond Ford (M) v Nick Ball (Q)
  
  
• 12 x 3 minute light-heavyweight contest
  Willy Hutchinson (Q) v Craig Richards (M)

Who are the Queesnberry and Matchroom team captains?

The two promoters were allocated a team captain, whereby that fighter would be eligible for double points in each of their respective bouts.

Frank Warren selected the unbeaten Hamzah Sheeraz as his pick, meaning he will receive double points if he can prevail over Austin 'Ammo' Williams, whilst Eddie Heard named Deontay Wilder, who squares off against Zhilei Zhang in an enthralling heavyweight dust-up, as his captain.

Is Deontay Wilder signed to Matchroom boxing?

Deontay Wilder has signed a one fight promotion deal with Matchroom, meaning he is eligible to feature as part of Eddie Hearn's stable.

The hard-hitting American, who is a former heavyweight world champion, has spent long parts of his professional career fighting under the Premier Boxing Champions banner, with Al Haymon serving as his advisor and Shelly Finkel as manager.

Upon announcing the unique fight card, His Excellency, Turki Alalshikh, allowed each of the promoters an opportunity to use a 'Wild Card' selection, which Hearn triggered by agreeing a deal with 'The Bronze Bomber'.

Queensberry v Matchroom - Fighting Talk

What's been said ahead of Queensberry v Matchroom?

Frank Warren:

“There is a natural rivalry between myself and Eddie Hearn. We get that, we both love the sport and we both want to win. We both feel for our fighters.

"Hopefully this will be the first of many encounters. I’m not sure Eddie will want another one after we wipe the floor with him.

“We want to win it. Eddie’s team wants to win it. His fighters want to win it. We want to win it. We’re all competitive. Everyone’s competitive. You know why? Because it’s called the fight game.

"There’s winners and losers, and we are not and don’t want to be the losers. Everything’s on the line here."

Eddie Hearn:

“It is actually quite remarkable as we talk every week and we meet multiple times with His Excellency (Alalshikh) that it has actually taken this long for us (Hearn and Frank Warren) to work together or even to speak.

“You’re talking about 13 or 14 years where we never spoke and it’s not good for the sport of boxing. The rivalry’s good, the competition’s good. But now we take it to another level with events like this.

"This is serious. We have to win and although we’re ‘friends’ now we’re not really. I really want to absolutely destroy Queensberry on June 1st.

"These are massive fights for our guys. You got world championships, huge heavyweight dust ups, big domestic fights. You got career-defining and ending fights. And one thing we do share in common is we love our fighters and we want them to win desperately.

"And this five I’ve got here I’m very confident will do the business in Riyadh.”