Boxing
Berlanga chose Zuffa, Hitchins had no choice
Hearn made a clear distinction between the two. In his opinion, Berlanga chose a way of making money that suited his ceiling, while Hitchins arrived there when he ran out of alternatives.
In the Berlanga case, Hearn was open about both the possibilities and the limitations.
“I don’t think he’ll necessarily win the world championship, but financially it’s a good opportunity for him,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV.
Berlanga, 28, has essentially become a high-level guard or fighter with special appeal. He may still make good money, but the days of being gifted undeserved shots at the undisputed king for eight-figure checks are probably over. He’s at the point of a complete career reset.
The statistics surrounding the Sheeraz fight are brutal. Berlanga fell three times before being thrown from the ring in his fifth fight last July. When you lose high-profile back-to-back fights to Canelo and then Sheeraz and get stopped in the second, that marketing strategy of the undefeated Power Puncher is dead and buried.
Established promoters like Matchroom or Top Rank probably wouldn’t touch Berlanga at his previous price because he’s proven he can’t crack the top level at 168 pounds.
“He’s not going to beat the top guys at 168. Come on,” Hearn said of Berlanga.
Hearn’s comment is boxing’s version of “saying the peaceful part out clamorous.” It’s a brutal reality check, but when you look at the 168-pound scene, it’s strenuous to argue that he’s wrong.
By saying, “Come on,” Hearn is essentially dismissing the marketing hype he helped build in an attempt to sell the Canelo fight. It shows that even the people who promoted Berlanga didn’t really believe he was part of the elite.
Hearn revealed a situation where options were disappearing one by one for Hitchins. Matchroom withdrew. Other promoters showed little interest. The negotiating stance adopted before the last fight did not lend a hand.
“We withdrew our offer. Top position was not an option and Golden Boy was not really an option,” Hearn said.
“They tried to be astute, but we finished,” he said of Team Hitchins.
By saying, “We have withdrawn our offer,” Hearn is signaling that he doesn’t even want to exchange offers anymore. He felt that the gap between what Hitchins wanted and what he was worth was too great to overcome.
When Top Rank and Golden Boy also passed, Hearn’s position was confirmed. If the biggest players in the game aren’t bidding for you, you’re a misfit.
Hearn is basically criticizing Richardson Hitchins and his team for messing with the bag. In boxing circles, “trying to be astute” is a promoter’s term for a fighter overestimating his market value and asking for money or terms that are not justified by his ticket-selling power.
“If you care about your legacy and want to be great, don’t take it,” Hearn said.
Hearn’s comment directly relates to Zuffa Boxing’s business model and its importance for fighter autonomy. In the classic boxing world, “greatness” is often measured by a fighter’s ability to move up the rankings, earn belts from the four major sanctioning organizations (WBC, WBA, IBF, WBO) and ultimately become undisputed.
By saying “don’t take it”, Hearn argues that signing a contract with Zuffa is effectively trading an “inheritance” for a “paycheck” in a closed system.
Hearn and Warren’s conflicting schedules mean the British heavyweight clash is not fully finalized
Click here to watch Benavidez vs. Zurdo and Inoue vs. Nakatini LIVE!
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are expected to fight later this year, but the date remains uncertain even though both camps claim to have reached an agreement. The fight depends on whether Joshua makes it to his fight, which will take place on July 25 in Riyad against Kristian Prenga.
Fury returned earlier this month with a decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov, his first victory since 2023, and immediately called for Joshua, who was watching from ringside. From that moment on, the desire to fight intensified again.
Joshua is still scheduled to return to action in July after a break following a fatal car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends. He confirmed that he will continue his career and that his next target will be Fury, provided he manages to get a summer fight.
This first step is now ready. Joshua will face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyad, with both sides claiming a deal with Fury will be concluded later. Eddie Hearn has identified November as his target.
“We’ll be back in July against Kristian Prengi and then, if all goes well, we’ll fight Tyson Fury in November. Everything has been signed on our end and ready to go. Fury said he’s signed the contract too, so there’s no point in denying it, in the end we’re going to fight without a doubt the biggest fight in the history of British boxing,” Hearn told Punch Podcast.
For Fury’s side, Frank Warren provided another window on when the fight would happen.
“It’s signed. Tyson signed up for it a few months ago and we were waiting for AJ and he already did it. So the fight will continue and it looks like it will take place sometime in October,” Warren said on talkSport Boxing.
The difference between October and November is compact on paper, but it usually means that the details are not yet fully settled. Fury’s dates, location and schedule still need to be finalized before anything can truly be wrapped up.
The fight goes on under a certain condition. Joshua has to get through July first. Until that happens, everything else is still being discussed.
Last update: 2026/05/01 at 2:41
“Hey, you’re talking about fighting the best, this and that. Don’t talk about it. I’m here. Winner of Zurdo vs. Benavidez, let’s go,” Jai Opetaia told The Ring.
Opetai’s comments come just days before Benavidez fights Ramirez for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles scheduled for May 2. The fight gives Benavidez a chance to secure his first 200-pound belt after moving up from lightweight heavyweight.
The Australian was preparing for a unification opportunity and used the moment to press his case, calling out both fighters rather than focusing on one opponent.
The IBF’s decision to strip Opetaia following his move to Zuffa Boxing has already impacted the perception of this fight. Jose Benavidez Sr. cited the lack of a title and narrow profile as reasons why the fight doesn’t make sense at this point.
Opetaia previously held the IBF cruiserweight title and remains one of the most avoided fighters in the division, with several proposed fights falling through over the past year.
His latest statement puts immediate pressure on the outcome of Saturday’s fight, and a clear next step is already being pushed publicly.
Opetaia’s fight with the Ramirez-Benavidez winner will take the division closer to full unification, depending on how the remaining titles are handled.
For now, our focus is on Saturday’s fight, but Opetaia has made his position clear – he expects him to be next.
Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury scheduled for October–November after the July 25 fight
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