Frank Warren reveals outrageous forfeit with Eddie Hearn for Matchroom vs Queensberry

The old rivalry has reignited ahead of this summer’s tournament (Picture: Getty)

There will be more than pride on the line for Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn when their best fighters meet in the Queensberry vs Matchroom five vs five series in June.

After years of refusing to speak to each other, the two biggest promoters in British boxing have ended a bitter rivalry to work together for a series of spectacular shows in Saudi Arabia over the last six months.

That new relationship will culminate in an unprecedented tournament between the rival promotions on 1 June, with Warren and Hearn picking their best fighters to do battle in a best of five showdown.

Respective teams were revealed on Monday with Warren selecting Zhilei Zhang, Daniel Dubois, Hamzah Sheeraz, Nick Ball and Willy Hutchinson to represent Queensberry.

Hearn meanwhile has signed former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to captain Matchroom, alongside Filip Hrgovic, Ammo Williams, Raymond Ford and Craig Richards.

The Matchroom boss promised his team will deliver a 5-0 whitewash this summer with Warren revealing there is a special forfeit in place should ether side fail to record a victory.

Hearn’s right-hand man Frank Smith, Matchroom CEO, and Warren’s events manager Andy Ayling have been offered up, with Warren telling Boxing Social: ‘If it’s five-nil then we’ve done a deal where Frank Smith has to come over to my office to make the tea for a day and he’s got to do it dressed as a French maid.

Matchroom vs Queensberry 5 vs 5 series

Deontay Wilder (Matchroom) vs Zhilei Zhang (Queensberry)

Filip Hrgovic (Matchroom) vs Daniel Dubois (Queensberry)

Ray Ford (Matchroom) vs Nick Ball (Queensberry)

Austin Williams (Matchroom) vs Hamzah Sheeraz (Queensberry)

Craig Richards (Matchroom) vs Willy Hutchinson (Queensberry)

‘And if it’s the other way round then Andy Ayling has to go over to Matchroom and dress as a butler for the day.’

A points-based system will also be in place to decide the winner when the rival groups collide. One point will be awarded for a decision win with two awarded for a knockout or stoppage.

Points will be worth double for fights involving team captains, with Wilder and Sheeraz leading Matchroom and Queensberry respectively.

The five vs five series will be followed by the eagerly-anticipated light-heavyweight title fight between Artur Beterbiev and Dmitry Bivol.

The two men will fight for all four world titles at 175lbs in one of the biggest fights in boxing.