20:12:20
SWING FOR THE RAFTERS IN ROUND 10
Both men look exhausted in round 10 as a bar room brawl breaks out. Richards looks ready to go down. Then Willy looks like he can’t last the pace. What a round.
20:07:00
EDDIE OFF HIS CHAIR
Hutchinson has never gone past seven rounds—could he be blowing a bit? If he is, the shots are still landing hard, regardless. Just because someone has never done the rounds doesn’t mean they can’t do them when required.
Hutchinson’s unorthodox approach has worked all night. Stepping off, walking around and leaping in with shots. Richards seems befuddled and a little rusty. He’s struggling to pin down the fizzing target.
Promoter Eddie Hearn jumped off his chair at the end of the ninth to give his man some much-needed encouragement. Craig responded with some heavy shots.
19:58:34
FIGHT HEATING UP AS RICHARDS STEPS FORWARD
Trained by Shane McGuigan, Craig Richards entered as the fight favourite. ‘The Spider’ needs to let some punches go, especially to the body, if he’s to turn the tide.
Referee Kevin Parker spoke with both corners about aggressive glove touching at the close of rounds. Those shots have been some of the heaviest Richards has thrown all night.
19:48:35
FIRED UP HUTCHINSON IN THE ASCENDENCY
Richards ate a big right hand at the close of the third. It’s all Hutchinson so far, in an offensive capacity.
It feels like the Scottish fighter is growing in confidence, mostly due to Richards’ nonchalance as he struggles to hit a groove. Richards wants to take it late, but he needs to do enough to get to that stage in the fight.
Meanwhile, backstage, Ray Ford is speaking to an interviewer, claiming he doesn’t like the “energy” of Nick Ball and his team. Interesting comments from the featherweight champion.
19:38:27
HUTCH INCREASING THE HURT
A surprisingly tentative start from these two that will surely heat up. In round two, Hutchinson turned it up a little when he dipped Richards’ legs with a left hook and later with a right hand.
Craig is a notoriously slow starter. Hutchinson is switch-hitting and warming into it.
19:27:20
RICHARDS’ EXPERIENCE OR HUTCHINSON’S POWER?
Craig Richards and Willy Hutchinson are in the ring. Bit of a crossroads affair this one. Richards has been there, done it, yet never quite got hold of the t-shirt. Despite that, he has shown skill and durability in good company.
Hutchinson can punch at a certain level but got stopped by Lennox Clarke (no shame there, Lennox is a good fighter) in his first major test….until now. They’ve had plenty to say to each other during the week as well, in the corridors and at the weigh-in. Expect a spicy affair.
19:03:09
GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME
Once again, what a night we have in store! *Rubs hands in excitement*
A bit of Bivol, a bit of Ball, a bit of DDD, a domestic dust-up and loads more.
That all builds up nicely to the heavyweight crescendo of Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang. Let’s go.
Teams from Queensberry Promotions and Matchroom Boxing square off for a £3 million prize in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Action begins on DAZN from 7pm UK, 2pm ET and 12 noon PT.
Queensberry vs Matchroom Weights and Running Order
12 x 3 mins Heavyweight contest
ZHILEI ZHANG (282.7lbs) VS DEONTAY WILDER (214.6lbs)
12 x 3 mins IBF Heavyweight Interim Title
DANIEL DUBOIS (245.8lbs) VS FILIP HRGOVIC (274.4lbs)
12 x 3 WBA & IBO World Light Heavyweight Titles
DMITRII BIVOL (175lbs) VS MALIK ZINAD (174.2lbs)
12 x 3 mins WBC Middleweight Silver Title & WBC Final Eliminator
HAMZAH SHEERAZ (159.6lbs) VS AUSTIN WILLIAMS (159.4lbs)
12 x 3 mins WBA World Featherweight Title
RAYMOND FORD (125.4lbs) VS NICK BALL (125.8lbs)
12 x 3 mins WBC Silver Light Heavyweight Title
WILLY HUTCHINSON (174lbs) VS CRAIG RICHARDS (174.2lbs)
