We are just a month away from the eagerly awaited 5 vs. 5 competition between Frank Warren’s Queensberry stable and fighters who campaign under Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom banner.
The one-night contest takes place in Riyadh on June 1st and serves as the undercard for the outstanding undisputed light heavyweight title fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol.
Last week, Hall of Fame promoter Warren told BoxingScene that he and Hearn have had constructive discussions about scaling down the format and holding similar events in Britain.
Over the years, talented British boxers have used ranking belts to manoeuvre their way cleverly up the world rankings but have been found wanting at the highest level. Warren and Hearn’s new working relationship opens the door to a series of eye-catching, cross-promotional shows that would provide promising domestic fighters with invaluable big fight experience and help prepare them for the next level.
The evenly matched fights and unique nature of the events would also attract much larger audiences and create the next wave of stars and headline attractions that British boxing is desperately waiting for.
With that in mind, let’s piece together the type of card that British fans could expect to see in the coming months.
Queensberry’s DENNIS McCANN. 15-0-1 (8 KOs) V Matchroom’s SHABAZ MASOUD, 12-0 (4 KOs) – SUPER BANTAMWEIGHT
A fight between two of Britain’s most talented super bantamweights was heavily rumoured when the June 1st ‘5 Vs. 5’ card was being put together.
McCann burst onto the scene as a prodigious 18-year-old but had already spent years in the sport. As a youngster, he would bunk off school and jump on the train to spend his days in the boxing gym. He now trains in Liverpool with Joe McNally and recently beat Brad Stand to win the British super bantamweight title. McCann boxes out of a wide stance and has plenty of variety and imagination but struggled at times with the aggression and power of Ionut Baluta back in 2023, settling for a technical draw.
These days, the 23-year-old rations the corkscrew uppercuts and thrilling combinations which quickly became his trademark but is becoming a solid, well-rounded fighter capable of going through the levels.
Masoud hasn’t boxed since making his Matchroom debut last November when he seemed fortunate to scrape past Colombia’s Jose Sanmartin. It was a disappointing performance from Masoud but there remains little doubt about his talent. The 28-year-old has the ability to make opponents miss and is an expert counter puncher once he finds his rhythm. He has been touted as a future multi-weight world champion but now needs to produce a performance worthy of that kind of praise.
An all-southpaw battle between McCann against Masoud may not catch fire immediately, but it is an important, obvious fight to make and the winner would have earned the right to push on towards world level.
Matchroom’s REECE BELLOTTI, 18-5 (14 KOs) V Queensberry’s RYAN GARNER, 14-0 (8 KOs) – SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT
As well as providing young, promising fighters with the chance to prove themselves capable of moving through the levels, dedicated stalwarts of the British scene should be given the chance to display their talents and few deserve the attention more than British champion, Bellotti. “Bomber” seems to have been around forever but is enjoying a real Indian summer to his career. After losing three consecutive fights, the popular Bellotti is enjoying the best run of his career, racking up four straight wins and beating talented fighters like Aqib Fiaz, Youssef Khamari and Liam Dillon. At 33-years-old, Bellotti has retained his fitness and hunger and will never lose his undoubted power.
Ryan “The Piranha” Garner finally has some momentum behind him. Garner is an extremely talented fighter who burst onto the scene all the way back in 2016 but was held back by injury and immaturity. Still only 26 years old, Garner has grown up over the past couple of years and has begun to show just why so many within the sport refused to give up on him. Garner is an aggressive box-fighter with talent to burn and the ability to finish fights. He has been desperate for the opportunity to prove himself and a fight with Bellotti would give him that chance.
Garner is scheduled to box former British champion – and the man Bellotti took the title from – Liam Dillon on May 11th. If he gets past Dillon, he would be fully deserving of a shot at the British title.
Queensberry’s ROYSTON BARNEY-SMITH, 9-0 (5 KOs) V Matchroom’s AQIB FIAZ, 12-1 (1 KO) – SUPER FEATHERWEIGHT
Barney-Smith has yet to put a foot wrong. The supremely talented 20-year-old has an abundance of natural ability but over the past six months, things have really started to come together. Barney-Smith seems to have developed his timing and ability to recognise when to cut loose and attack and his long, southpaw left hand is becoming a serious weapon. Barney-Smith looks like a genuine blue chip prospect but, so far, he has built his reputation against solid journeymen who always have an eye on the next fight. The time has come to match him with a determined, British opponent.
Aqib Fiaz could be that man. The 24-year-old came up on the small hall circuit but his talent was clear from the outset. He proved his mettle in just his second fight when he beat the very tough and talented Ben Fields on extremely late notice – that may mean nothing to our American readers but, trust me, many up and coming fighters have failed the Ben Fields test – and quickly found himself a regular on Matchroom cards. Fiaz has shown flashes of his undoubted skill but has proven too easy to draw into a fight. He was worn down by the super fit, tough Bellotti in eight rounds last October but will have learned plenty about pacing himself. That experience should help him weather an expected early storm from a fighter like Barney-Smith. Fiaz deserves another chance and the opportunity to beat a prospect like Barney-Smith should bring the best out of him.
Matchroom’s JOHN HEDGES, 9-0 (3 KOs) V Queensberry’s ALOYS JUNIOR, 7-1 (7 KOs) – CRUISERWEIGHT
You may disagree but – in my opinion – every card would benefit from having a cruiserweight contest added to it. The 200lb division constantly delivers exciting action between fighters who aren’t afraid to face each other.
A fight between Hedges and Junior would pit two of Britain’s most promising youngsters against one another in a real clash of styles.
“The Gentleman” Hedges is a slick 6ft 5ins tall southpaw. The decorated amateur turned professional as a light heavyweight and sailed through his first seven fights. A hand injury resulted in a long spell on the sidelines but he returned to action in February as a cruiserweight, stopping the solid Erdogan Kadrija in two rounds. 22-year-old Hedges has the frame and technical ability to make Aloys Junior pay for every mistake but would also need to prove that he has the resilience and robustness to succeed at 200lbs.
Junior, 21, has come from nowhere and emerged as one of British boxing’s most exciting prospects. “The Animal” carries undoubted one punch finishing power and is a fast, powerful, ball of aggression but his trainer, Ben Davison, seems to be teaching him the benefits of patience. Recent evidence suggests that Junior is taking the lessons on board. Junior’s arrow is definitely pointing skywards but his technical skills would get a real test against a talented fighter like Hedges.
Both would learn plenty from the fight, regardless of the outcome.
Queensberry’s EKOW ESSUMAN, 19-1 (7 KOs) V Matchroom’s PAT McCORMACK, 5-0 (4 KOs) – WELTERWEIGHT
On paper, this looks like a huge jump in levels for McCormack, who is undefeated in five professional contests. Well, it shouldn’t be. McCormack was an outstanding amateur who won a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Injuries have held him back so far but he is already 28-years-old and needs to make some ambitious, calculated gambles if he is to fulfil his undoubted potential. McCormack – who has weighed around 150lbs for his last four fights – looks like the type of fighter who will come alive when confronted with a real threat and he would need to produce a career-best performance to get past Essuman.
Essuman – known as “The Engine” – is a workaholic. He has been competing at title level for six years and made four defences of the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles. Last November, the first signs of wear began to show as he allowed himself to be out-hustled out of his titles by an excellent Harry Scarff. It was an out of character performance from Essuman, who deserves a chance to put things right. Essuman may struggle to see the benefits of taking on a dangerous fighter like McCormack but it is a fight which would provide him with a high risk, high profile route back to prominence.
McCormack may possess more natural ability than the 35 year old but would be made to work from the opening bell. If Essuman was still there with him at the fight’s midway point, things could get extremely interesting.