5 vs 5 this Saturday. Who R U Pickin'?

[WelshDevilRob]

Big card this Saturday. Live on ESPN, DAZN and TNT. Shame that Beterbiev is out of the main event.

Who wins these fights? - speak now or hold your tongue forever.

 

[Cableaddict]

Some tough calls here.  I'll go with:

 

Wilder over Zhang via KO.  I think something was wrong with Wilder (mentally or physically) in the Parker fight.  He knows it's his last hurrah and will hopefully be motivated like he was in the 3rd Fury fight.   I really like Zhang,   so I hate to see this happen, but I don't think Zhang has the mobility to avoid Wilder's death punch, if Wilder throws combinations and uses his legs to stay at a safe distance. (Which he certainly CAN do when he wants to.)

 

Hrgovic will probably take out the dubious one, with an accumulation of illegal rabbit punches.

 

Bivol of course beats Zinad, but likely via a decision.  Maybe even a close one.  - Zinad hasn't face much real competition,. but he does look very good. Very controlled & very sound defensively.  But I think Bivol is a bit faster and a bit more athletic, so ....

 

I don't know anything about those other guys.

 

 

[Ledhed1]

First things first. Nobody gives a shit about the promoters. Those are the guys who prevent fights from happening. How are these fights happening? Saudi money; plain and simple. There's a good reason the boxing industry is circling the drain. The Warrens, Hearns, Arums have been overseeing the decline for decades. If there was a university course on how not to run a business, you could study a boxing promoter for a full semester and have a good laugh. That the promoters' names are front and center on this promotion shows what kind of megalomaniacal individual it takes to be a boxing promoter.

As for the fights, Richards hardly embarrassed himself vs Bivol and Buatsi. Going with the experienced fighter here.

Ammo Williams has more experience fighting on the road than Sheeraz but it's the first time for both in Saudi which is a unique experience and takes some getting used to so no advantage either way. Going with the size and power of Sheeraz.

Ball's last fight was in Riyadh so experience advantage there. Ford barely escaped his last fight, trailing on the cards before a last round stoppage. Ford has the size but Rey Vargas is even bigger and Ball gave him hell. Bulldog Ball stays in Ford's face all night and leaves with the belt he was denied last time out.

Hrgovic 3 prior fights in Saudi, Dubois 1. Hrgovic has the better bona fides especially the win over Zhang. Hrgovic's motor is the question. What level does he bring? He can coast at times and barely scrapes through when he lets that happen. Dubois has only lost when he's been physically worn down. Can Hrgovic do that? He's managed to find a way to keep his 0 and been stopping more opponents lately. Counting on him to rise to the occasion. His best level beats Dubois's.

The danger for Bivol is he was preparing for the fight of his life - all due respect to Canelo but this was for all the marbles at 175 - and winds up getting a relative unknown. It's a question of motivation. Zinad was a revelation going to Australia and outworking Pampellone but that's a far cry from Bivol. Zinad's been a road warrior but first time in Saudi. Every chance he'll cower and fight 36 minutes in survival mode. Bivol's not stopped anyone in over 6 years. Another UD12 while he bides his time for Beterbiev.

Wilder experienced fighting in Saudi his last time out so that box is checked. Both getting up there in age though Zhang has more tread left on his tires. He certainly gave Parker a rougher ride than Wilder did. But that's a matchup issue. Parker bamboozled Wilder while Zhang stuck to his guns and caught Parker a couple times though overall Parker outworked Zhang nearly as decisively as he did Wilder. Wilder-Zhang is a different dynamic. Zhang's more of a sitting target for Wilder, who is obviously a far more dangerous puncher than Parker. Wilder wins but what does it mean for the 5 vs 5? Wilder's got Jared Anderson lined up back in America and Warren's stuck with a Chinese fighter who's lost 2 straight.

Should be a high level card thanks to sheik Turki. Couldn't care less about the promoters.

[robprosser]

Well that was fun! Not a bad fight on the card. My personal highlight was Dubois beating up the rabbit puncher.

[Bear Hugger]

Dubois surprised me. I thought he was eating too many punches in the first round, and that Hrgovic would come on strong when he tired.

Wilder tempted by the Saudi money will probably retire now.

[WelshDevilRob]

Ball vs Ford was a fantastic fight and really close. A cracking evening of fights though Zhang vs Wilder was poor until the finish. Also, I couldn't believe how many right hands Dubois ate and kept going - brilliant win for him.

Nice to see Bivol get a stoppage win.