Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn lastly introduced collectively by Saudi Arabia for ‘5v5’

It was back in January when Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh stood on a balcony at a London event space and took the microphone.

Like the Roman emperor-style ruler he has become of the sport, the chairman of the Middle East country’s General Entertainment Authority looked down on those below him and delivered his orders.

Promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn were sat on the top table at a press conference announcing Anthony Joshua’s clash with Francis Ngannou, as part of Saudi’s latest heavily financed event, at HERE @ Outernet in central London.

They were told by Alalshikh that he wanted a card of five fighters from each of the famous promoters’ stables pitted against each other in a tournament-style night of boxing in Riyadh.

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Both men didn’t hesitate to shake hands and thoughts immediately turned to who they could put in against each other.

To consider the power and influence Alalshikh now has on the sport you only need to remember that, before the end of 2023, these two promoters had never even met.

They were sworn enemies who once briefly spoke on the phone during the Covid pandemic, organised a lunch only for Hearn to contract the virus and the meeting was shelved.

It was gathering dust there and their bickering via media channels resumed. But while a global pandemic almost got them together, it is no doubt the money and opportunity in Saudi which has finally forged a somewhat forced friendship.

Warren was first to work with Alalshikh when he brought Tyson Fury to the table but Hearn was soon brought in thanks to his heavyweight property in Anthony Joshua.

Both know this is a party you don’t want to get thrown out of so both have been on their best behaviour since with the verbal shots thrown through interviews now put on hold.

But Alalshikh actually likes the rivalry. He’s a boxing fan and, while the sport is offering Saudi a vehicle to try to change their worldwide image, his passion for the fight game is a driving force.

That’s why he wanted to see this weekend’s ‘5 v 5’ card come to fruition and he won’t mind the bitterness this week.

It was initially Warren’s idea to stage something like this. Back in those Covid days, his Queensberry Promotions outfit pitched the idea in a press release.

It wasn’t totally ignored by Hearn and Matchroom but they never seriously entertained it. Yet when Alalshikh put it to both promoters, Hearn couldn’t wait to shake Warren’s hand on it.

What followed was a few months of negotiations on the format, weights and, of course, the fighters.

Deontay Wilder – now backed by long-time hater Hearn – will face Zhilei Zhang in a heavyweight duel. Warren’s heavyweight hope Daniel Dubois faces long-time IBF mandatory Filip Hrgovic.

Liverpool’s Nick Ball will fight for the WBA featherweight title and Queensberry pride when he faces Hearn’s Ray Ford. A light-heavyweight clash between Warren-backed Willy Hutchinson against more seasoned campaigner Craig Richards offers intrigue.

While middleweight rising stars Hamzah Sheeraz and Austin Williams face off for a shot at a world title. I.t is certainly an event with a difference including captain picks for bonus points.

But it is another night that proves just how influential Saudi has become in the sport.

HOW THE SCORING WORKS

Points win – 1 point

KO win – 2 points

Draw – 0 points

Captain win – double points

Queensberry captain – Hamzah Sheeraz

Matchroom captain – Deontay Wilder

Watch ‘5 vs 5: Queensberry vs Matchroom’ live from Riyadh on TNT Sports Box Office from 7pm on Saturday 1 June. For more info: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice