Hutchinson and Richards are first on the card for Saturday's Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5v5 event, broadcast live worldwide on DAZN, with the light heavyweights expected to set the tone for a landmark night of boxing.

Matchroom chairman Hearn backs Richards to win the fight, of course, but he expects Hutchinson to put forth a big challenge.

"When you've got the pedigree of Willy Hutchinson, you never know, actually, what is there to come when he's up against it," Hearn said on Wednesday at the open workouts in Riyadh.

"I think the defeat to Lennox Clarke (in 2021), it's probably not a great example of his levels, but with Willy I feel like it's always been a case of preparation, mentality.

"If he's got it right, he's going to be very tough to beat — and you'd expect him to get it right on an occasion like this."

Live on DAZN: Queensberry vs. Matchroom 5v5 on June 1.  Click here for details.