RIYADH: Boxing promoter Frank Warren on Thursday called Riyadh the “capital of world boxing” at a press conference ahead of Saturday’s “5vs5” event featuring the best fighters of the Queensberry and Matchroom stables.
Warren was joined by rival promoter Eddie Hearn and the fighters for the final press conference before Friday’s weigh-in and the main event at the Kingdom Arena in the Saudi capital.
Both emphasized the importance of the fight card and praised the Kingdom’s hosting of the event.
On his boxer Malik Zanad’s fight against Russia’s Dmitry Bivol, Warren said: “We have here two undefeated boxers, as you know. We lost a great fight (Fury's loss to Usyk), but I think we now have another great fight.”
He continued: “We have (Malik) Zanad, a man hungry for victory, used to boxing away from home; he went to Australia and defeated Gerard Pamplon, he is facing Bivol, who I consider one of the best boxers, with a record of 22 wins and no losses.
“Both have perfect records, but obviously, one of them will lose this fight, and I have often seen last-minute substitutes come in, seize the moment, and win the title.”
Libyan fighter Zanad agreed.
“I fight because I strive for victory, I thank everyone for this opportunity, and you will see a performance in this fight that will make you say I could have been a world champion a long time ago, but now is the opportunity to become a world champion, and I will become a world champion soon, inshallah, I will achieve that,” he said.
Bivol was more philosophical about his chances.
“It depends on how the fight goes, I may need to adapt and change, this is professional boxing, and you must be able to change your style, starting from the training phase, to make it easier in the ring,” he said.
“In the first round, the fight may be tactical, and in the second round, it may become more aggressive. You have to be ready for all possibilities, and I am prepared for everything,” he added.
