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Matchroom CEO Frank Smith reacts to Jai Opetai’s decision to sign Dana White

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Matchroom CEO Frank Smith reacts to Jai Opetaia choosing to sign with Dana White

Matchroom Boxing CEO Frank Smith insists he is not considering Jai Opetai leaving for Zuffa Boxing.

Last week, Opetaia announced that he and long-time co-organizer Tasman Fighters will now be teaming up with Dana White and Zuffawhich further highlights White’s growing ambitions in the sport. Zuffa Boxing will launch on Friday night at UFC APEX, with the main event of the first broadcast via Paramount Plus being the Callum Walsh vs. Carlos Ocampo fight, with further appearances scheduled for the coming months.

Securing Opetai represents a significant coup for White. The IBF cruiserweight champion is widely viewed as a future undisputed 200-pound titleholder and a potential heavyweight force should he ultimately move up.

Matchroom began working with Opetaia and Tasman Fighters in July 2023, and while they were not involved in his most recent title defense against Huseyin Cinkara, they have worked with the Australian on several fights, including previous world title defenses.

Interview with IFL TVSmith addressed Opetai’s departure and took a philosophical tone when talking about losing a fighter to a up-to-date promotional rival.

“That’s the way it is. Fighters come, fighters go.

In boxing you need someone who will be completely devoted to you and will do everything for you. It is also a commercial business, right?

You have to think about it long-term, and not everyone does that. This isn’t the first time this has happened. This won’t be the last time this happens.”

Expressing disappointment, Smith made it clear there was little point in dwelling on defeat as Matchroom looked to the future.

“There are so many opportunities, but it’s not an endless pool of money because otherwise we wouldn’t be in this business, and we’re in this to be in business.

“Again, I’m not sitting here and saying, ‘Oh, it doesn’t matter. Who even cares?’ But I’m sitting here and saying, ‘Well, we’ve got to focus on the 94 other players we have right now.’ Jai Opetaia is a brilliant player, but are there other players, maybe not as good as him, but with greater commercial opportunities? Yes.”

For Smith, the message is clear: Zuffa’s arrival may be disruptive, but Matchroom remains focused on the players still under its banner and moving forward.

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Canelo Camp announces Resendiz-Munguia as the winner next

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Image: Canelo Alvarez Camp Signals Resendiz-Munguia Winner as Next Move

Eddy Reynoso may have said more than he intended when discussing Canelo Alvarez’s next move, as his comments pointed less to Christian Mbilli and more to the winner of next week’s Jaime Munguia-Armando Resendiz fight

Canelo is expected to return to Riyadh for the season in September after recovering from surgery on his left elbow. Reynoso told Ring magazine that the plan remains super middleweight and named several possible opponents, including Mbilli. However, the strongest language in the interview was the conversation about the May 2 fight between Munguia and Resendiz for the WBA title.


“This time it’s Munguia against Resendiz in a pan-Mexico fight on a pan-Mexico card,” Reynoso told Ring Magazine, discussing Cinco de Mayo weekend. “This is going to be an amazing fight and we are prepared to win. This fight is going to be so good that it will steal the show. They have the ingredients to distract from the main event.”

This was unique because Reynoso trains Munguia and has a direct stake in the outcome, but it also sounded like early preparation for what comes next. If Munguia wins, a rematch with Canelo will be an straightforward sell to the Mexican crowd and an straightforward one to build to. If Resendiz wins, he will arrive with the belt and fresh momentum.

After his recent victory over Lester Martinez, Reynoso mentioned Mbilli as a “massive challenge,” but the tone was different. This sounded like one option on the list as the Munguia-Resendiz fight gained full popularity.

Canelo’s team has also ruled out other routes. Reynoso said the David Benavidez fight is now over and suggested there is little chance of seeing it again. Staying at 168 pounds also reduces the likelihood of a rematch with Dmitry Bivol.

This leaves less room than it initially seemed. When camps start praising one fight with such a hard month ahead of time, it’s usually worth paying attention to.

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Categories Canelo Alvarez and Jaime Munguia

Last updated: 25/04/2026 at 13:22

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Victor Ortiz was knocked out by Floyd Mayweather, but names an opponent who was ‘much better’

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Victor Ortiz got knocked out by Floyd Mayweather but names the opponent who was ‘much better’

Floyd Mayweather’s last knockout victory over a legal opponent came in 2011 against Victor Ortiz, but despite the stoppage loss, the fighter known as “Vicious” claims he once fought a much better opponent.

It was a highly controversial moment when Mayweather knocked out Ortiz for the WBC welterweight title more than a decade ago, and the fourth round of their fight turned out to be full of drama.

Ortiz threw combinations on the ropes against Mayweather, but then got reckless and led with his head, prompting the referee to deduct a point.

With Ortiz paying no attention to the resumption of the fight, Mayweather fired a tough shot that knocked down and then knocked out his opponent, proving the elderly adage to always protect yourself.

Mayweather is undoubtedly the biggest name Ortiz has ever adopted, but while the boxing legend can be considered one of the best of all time, Ortiz told TalkSport that Andre Berto was better.

“He (Mayweather) is not the best opponent I’ve faced. Without a doubt, not. The best opponent I’ve faced was Andre Berto; he was much better. Andre Berto is a top-shelf pound-for-pound king. He knocked me down, I knocked him down, he got up, he knocked me down again.”

“This man showed everything: quality, heart, skill. Whatever, he’s got it. Someone like Floyd has what? Counter, running? That same year, I bought him some sprint shots at a press conference. My brother also bought him a box of tampons.

“But Andre Berto is special. I have the utmost respect for him. He has power in both hands; he is the total package. Someone with Floyd can’t compete with that.”

Ortiz defeated Berto to win the WBC welterweight title in a fight before facing Mayweather, which would be the first defeat of Berto’s professional career.

Berto’s final record was 32 wins and 6 losses, and during their meeting in September 2015, he suffered a one-sided defeat to Mayweather himself.

Mayweather competed just once again after the Berto fight, when he knocked out MMA fighter Conor McGregor in August 2017, although he is scheduled to return to fight former opponent Manny Pacquiao in September provided that the current problems can be solved.

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Jarrell Miller tries to break into Joshua’s plans

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Image: Jarrell Miller tries to force way into Joshua plans

Many fans on social media suspect that Miller is once again chasing Joshua just to secure a huge payday, which he threw away when failed drug tests canceled their 2019 fight.

Joshua wants a tune-up before he finally meets Tyson Fury. The plan is to shake off the rust and keep his record pristine before this huge event happens. This gap in the schedule gives other heavyweights a chance to make their voices heard, and Miller takes advantage of the moment.

Miller is still a controversial name, but he knows how to cause offense. Beating Pero would aid him prove that he still belongs in this conversation.

“Your whooping cough will come sooner or later. You can run, but you can’t hide,” Jarrell Miller said on Matchroom.

From a business perspective, Joshua’s team is focused on the Tyson Fury event. Facing an aggressive, volume hitter like Miller in a comeback fight would be risky. If Joshua wins, critics may view it as defeating a challenger who has spent years outside the elite mix. If he loses, Fury’s payout and his position will take damage.

Miller has built much of his reputation on noise and confrontation, but he’s still trying to fight his way into the majors. A victory over Pero won’t put him in a fight with Joshua right away, but it will keep him in the wider discussion.

Joshua’s team may still choose the safer and more controlled option of a return, especially if negotiations with Fury progress behind the scenes. Risking that payday against a hazardous or inconvenient opponent wouldn’t make much sense.

Still, Miller continues to cling to the story whenever Joshua’s name resurfaces in the headlines. Heavyweight boxing has a long memory, and some unfinished fights remain useful long after the first fall.

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