Avila Perspective, Chap. 285: Heavyweights Clash in Saudi Arabia and More

Avila Perspective, Chap. 285: Heavyweights Clash in Saudi Arabia and More

In this media age of flooded entertainment, heavyweight boxing seems to be front and center again.

Who doesn’t like to see gargantuan men clobber each other?

Rival British promoters Eddie Hearn (Matchroom) and Frank Warren (Queensberry) stack a fight card with their best heavyweights led by Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) meeting Zhilei “Big Bang” Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) in a main event on Saturday June 1, at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The pay-per-view card called “Five versus Five” will stream on the DAZN and ESPN platforms.

Wilder, 38, has lost three of his last four fights but who doesn’t like to see the wild swinging Alabama heavyweight do his thing. It’s like igniting the fuse of a cherry bomb and holding on to it as long as you can before it blows your fingers off.

He always has the potential to explode.

Zhang is a different cat. The large Chinese fighter has skills, can punch, and seems to take a blow just as well. But his gas tank always seems to be on empty. His last fight against Joseph Parker he was on the verge of victory but couldn’t manage that one last blow to end the fight. He eventually lost.

One thing different in this match is Wilder doesn’t win by decision. He either knocks your block off or loses.

“This is a dangerous fight for both,” said Henry Ramirez, a veteran boxing trainer from Riverside, California who worked with former heavyweight contender Chris Arreola. “Both guys have power and both can win.”

Ramirez believes the heavyweight that connects first may be the winner.

Another match pits heavyweights Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs) against Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs). Both have qualities that could vault them to the top. Britian’s Dubois recently dismantled “Big Baby” Jarrell Miller and Croatia’s Hrgovic slid by Zhang when they met two years ago.

One of them could be on top.

“This is another interesting heavyweight fight,” said Ramirez. “The winner has a good chance to boost his career.”

Light heavyweights

Light heavyweight champ Dmitry Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) was expected to clash with fellow Russian Artur Beterbiev, but instead you get Libya’s undefeated Malik Zinad (22-0, 16 KOs).

When Beterbiev pulled out due to injury it stymied plans to host one of the most talked-about light heavyweight fights in the last 40 years. Bivol forges on against little known Zinad who won a title eliminator against New Zealand’s Jerome Pampellone by majority decision in Sydney.

Still, Bivol remains one of the most skilled fighters in the game and is willing to risk it all for this fight card. That’s admirable.

Other Bouts

Ammo Williams (16-0, 11 KOs) returns and meets Hamzah Sheeraz (19-0, 15 KOs) in a battle between undefeated middleweights. It’s an interesting battle between the very strong southpaw from Texas and the tall middleweight from Essex. It might be the best fight of the day.

A featherweight clash showcases America’s Raymond Ford (15-0-1, 8 KOs) defending the WBA title against England’s pit bull Nick Ball (19-0-1, 11 KOs). The last time we saw Ball, he gave Mexico’s Rey Vargas hell for 12 rounds in a split-decision loss. Expect more of the same and perhaps this time he walks away with the belt.

New Women’s Boxing Book

New York’s Malissa Smith has a new book called “The Promise of Women’s Boxing: A Momentous New Era for the Sweet Science.” A launch party is planned on Saturday June 15, 7 p.m. at Gleason’s Gym in Brooklyn.

A panel discussion featuring several female prizefighters will be held during the launch, including Heather Hardy, Alicia Ashley, Shelly Vincent, Ronica Jeffrey, Maureen Shea and referee Sparkle Lee participating. The moderator is filmmaker Raquel Cepeda.

Rarely are books published on women’s boxing. Smith is one of the best authors in the world of prizefighting. This book is available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other methods of purchase.

If you are curious about female boxing, this book will enlighten you to its current phase with champions such as Amanda Serrano, Katie Taylor, Claressa Shields and Mikaela Mayer leading the way. It’s been a wild ride for women’s boxing. Be sure to purchase and read this book.

Fights to Watch

Fri. DAZN 5 p.m. Andreas Katzourakis (12-0) vs Kudratillo Abdukakhorov (20-2).

Fri. DAZN 5 p.m. Kevin Brown (4-0) vs Idalberto Umara (12-2)

Sat. 11 a.m. DAZN, ESPN ppv 11 a.m. Deontay Wilder (43-3-1) vs Zhilei Zhang (26-2-1); Dmitry Bivol (22-0) vs Malik Zinad (22-0); Daniel Dubois (20-2) vs Filip Hrgovic (17-0); Raymond Ford (15-0-1) vs Nick Ball (19-0-1).

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