5 vs 5 Matchroom Vs Queensbury
The most recent Francis Nganouu vs Anthony Joshua (Knockout Chaos) press conference brought up a very interesting prospect which has got many boxing fans excited.
Within the conference His Excellency Turki Alalshikh spoke about the prospect of a Queensbury vs Matchroom card pitting the finest from the Matchroom stable against the finest of Queensbury.
The idea was suggested and agreed upon as a 5 vs 5 fight card where the two stables would match up.
Not only would this be such a momentous occasion for the in ring action but for the out of ring politics.
6 months ago we would have never even thought of the idea of Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren partnering on a card let alone matching a full card against each other.
Now 6 months down the line were not only seeing the two amicable but even shaking hands and speaking well of each other whilst creating fight cards together.
This Hakuna Matata mentality is all well and good for His Excellency Turki Alalshikh and the two promoters, but its even more appetising to fans and fantasy matchmakers like myself.
So i’m going to create my fantasy Matchroom VS Queensbury boxing fights.
First we need to establish some rules; number one it has to be realistic so that means weight classes will have to stay the same or at least similar, number two it can’t be filled with just superstar fights (not even Turki Alalshikh will be frivolous enough with his money to fill a card full of the big money makers and not spread them out) and I won’t be including any fighters who are currently in contract disputes or anyone who’s on a fight by fight basis.
Now that we have the admin done lets get to match making.
Johnny Fisher Vs David Adeleye-
This fight is the perfect tester for the both of them. Adeleye off the back of a unfortunate knockout loss to Fabio Wardley in the British title fight and Johnny Fisher potentially off the back off a American debut win. Both are at similar spots in a absolutely stacked division and show equaliser like knockout power, this one is sure to be fireworks.
Adeleye’s position is a unique one already taking a big loss early into his career, this doesn’t look good when you have one of the best crop of young heavyweights in Britain waiting behind. He needs a big name on his record to put his career back on the same trajectory it once was on. This reminds me similarly to Daniel Dubois loss to Joe Joyce, although at different career points, both settling for losses to fellow Englishmen in a huge litmus test fight. Fisher on the record of Adeleye puts a name and a call out to the rest of the division showing that the Wardley Fight was just a blip in progress.
Fisher on the other hand would like this fight for completely different reasons. The one most of all, is to put a strong name on a building resume. Fisher first will have to take a trip over stateside without home support of his ‘Bosh Army’ facing the 10-1-0 Dmytro Bezus. This is going to be a test of his own as we’ve never seen Fisher without the home support who play a massive role in helping him. But providing he passes this test he will need a step up in opponent and the next step is British title level, a level Adeleye knows well. The Romford Bull is a massive name showing he can co-main big fight cards and a fire fight against Adeleye would be one of the most entertaining heavyweight fights to be made.
Craig Richards Vs Anthony Yarde
These two are elite level athletes and huge British names, in a division that is stacked to the brim with talent. Both coming off of loses to high level opponents, both looking for a busy 2024 and both looking for a statement name to get them back in the title picture.
Craig Richards is probably in need of this fight more than Anthony Yarde. After heavy defeats to title holder Dmitri Bivol and fellow Englishman Josh Buatsi the ‘Spider’ needs a big name on the record to help chances of returning to the title picture, this topped with a long lay off leaves the boxing world pondering over where Richards is among top Light-Heavyweights? This question is to be answered with new trainer Shane McGuigan, of the packed with talent McGuigan gym. McGuigan is known for helping fighters make a change or a step up like he’s done with others such as George Groves, winning him a world championship for the first time, and Chris Billam Smith, leading him to become world champion last year. A win against Yarde would solidify Richards as a Light Heavyweight threat whilst answering the doubts left by a long layoff.
Anthony Yarde on the other hand is a very different kettle of fish. Coming off the back of three title fight loses to Sergey Kovalev, Lyndon Arthur and most recently Arthur Beterbiev, Yarde needs a big fight to help him change his narrative. Despite returning and beating Lyndon Arthur in 2021 Yarde needs a lot more statement victory’s to try and compete for a chance to return to the title picture, with Azeez and Buatsi waiting in the wings and Beterbiev and Bivol fighting for undisputed gold, Yarde would need a big fight to keep up with the division. This doesn’t even take into account the likes of Gilberto Ramirez and Callum Smith who are both looking with a keen eye on the division. Yarde does have a fight scheduled on the Hamzah Sheeraz and Liam Williams undercard but based on his knockout record he should be good to fire through his opponent and march on to a big fight in Saudi Arabia.
Royston Barney Smith vs Brandon Scott-
This would be more 50/50 than most fighters would like at this stage of their respective careers but would be a excellent fight to test each others talents.
Brandon Scott whose known for his grand gestures and personality quirks but is just as much of a threat in the ring. The Welshman is 6-0-0 and is most famously known for hunting down Eddie Hearn at multiple different events in the hopes of convincing Eddie to give him a contract, this came to its very satisfying conclusion when Scott cornered Eddie at one of Matchrooms traditional fight day 5km runs after flying all the way out to Ireland and dressing In a James Bond like suit, in hand with a WWE Money In The Bank contract. The deal was then officially signed and Scott proceeded to do the whole 5km in his suit as promised to Eddie and Frank. The performances have been backed up in the ring with two dominant points victories since. Scott has been out since October after having surgery on his hand but looks to be returning soon and maybe just in time for a match up on this card.
Royston Barney Smith is more low key than his Welsh counter part but does his talking within the ring winning his first 8 professional fights including 4 knockouts. Although not as well known in terms of personality as Scott the Southampton man is looking to claim titles in 2024 and looks to become Britains youngest world champion. The Young Hampshire lad is one of many prospects brewing down in the South East of England with the likes of Mark Chamberlain, Ryan Garner and Lewis Edmondson all from the South Coast.
Both will look to get there names out on a big card in 2024 and this battle of the promoters card is one way to pay the promoters back for signing them up. It is rather unlikely this fight happens as Scott is coming off the back of a injury and they are both very early into there respective careers which is always a red flag in matchmaking terms but a nice fantasy matchup.
Other fights considered-
Liam Davies Vs Murodjon Akhmadaliev-
Murodjon’s only loss was to Tapales who lost to Inoue recently. Liam Davies would test his level and see what level they are both at but Liam Davies already is fighting on the Joe Joyce undercard for a title.
Any Matchroom Featherweight or Super Featherweight vs Anthony Cacace or Nick Ball-
One of the hottest divisions in boxing at the moment and it seems like Matchroom have a plethora of talent in these divisions. Just to name a few ;Josh Warrington a huge personality and ticket seller with massive pride so would fight with his life for Matchroom, Leigh Wood another fighter who’s had some absolute wars and is always a threat with his power, Mauricio Lara who has beaten both of the previous and is a absolute warrior, Jordan Gill who shocked the world beating Mick Conlan and finally Joe Cordina one of the best if not the best Super Featherweight around holding the IBF Featherweight title. Its slightly less stacked in the Queensbury camp but still have huge players with Anthony Cacace who is fighting Cordina for the titles in Saudi already which is why I didn’t include those (same with Wood Warrington which is touted to be at the City Ground although not officially announced), Nick Ball who is also fighting for a title in Saudi but is 19-0 with the likes of Issac Lowe and Issac Dogboe on his resume. Then the up and coming prospects of Nathaniel Collins and Ryan Garner who both look like stars in the ring.
Safe to say that the future of Featherweight and Super Featherweight is in good hands with a massive and very busy 2024 already.
