Zuffa Boxing’s stated goal of competing with established British promoters hinges on one problem: talent. IN analysis of promotion prospects in Great BritainiFL TV argued that the path to joining Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren at the top of British boxing was through transfers and that Dana White’s company would likely have to outperform the market to get there. Zuffa already has a contract with one leading British company and has reportedly added another, with the target list still linked to its rivals.

The question about the lineup comes as Zuffa puts out its first cards in the region. The organization will make its debut in the UK on June 6 in Bournemouth, where former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith will face Canadian Ryan Rozicki, and on August 8, the first Irish Zuffa Boxing 10 gala will take place at the 3Arena in Dublin.

Signatures and goals

The anchor is Conor Benn. He left Hearn’s Matchroom in February on a rumored $15 million one-fight contract, defeated Regis Prograis at Tottenham in April, and then re-signed to a multi-fight contract that: according to ESPNwill last until 2028. “Our visions were aligned,” Benn said, adding that the goal remains a world title and the fights fans expect.

iFL TV has recognized Chris Eubank Jr. as his most likely next target, reporting that his relationship with promoter Boxxer appears strained. A move to Zuffa would open the door to a third fight with Benn after the pair met twice last year, and the fight, according to iFL TV, will attract stadiums at every weight above middleweight.

Apart from these two, the website noted that most of Britain’s top fighters are involved elsewhere. Daniel Dubois, Dalton Smith, Jack Catterall and Fabio Wardley have all signed with Warren or Hearn, as has potential heavyweight Moses Itauma, who signed a long-term deal with Queensberry about 18 months ago. iFL TV also named lithe heavyweight Ben Whittaker, who is affiliated with Matchroom and is scheduled to make his U.S. debut this month, as a fighter Zuffa could pursue once his contracts expire. White’s public dispute with both promoters, the portal added, complicates any cooperation. A broadcast breakdown, questions about Zuffa’s own belt and Hearn and Warren’s answers are featured in BoxingInsider’s look at Zuffa’s wider UK plan.

On the elite level, Hearn said this week that junior welterweight champion Shakur Stevenson has signed with Zuffa. “Shakur has signed with Zuffa, so that will be his continued development,” Hearn told Fight Hub TV. The promotion has not formally announced the deal. Hearn, who promoted Stevenson back in January, questioned the expense behind such transfers and said the model would not be sustainable.

Irish Card

Zuffa’s performance in Dublin opens a second route to talent from the region. According to The 42 and Irish Boxing, Cork’s Callum Walsh, who headlined the organization’s debut in Las Vegas in January, will be the expected headliner on August 8. The same media reports that middleweight Aaron McKenna Monaghan is in line to fight Italian Etinosa Oliha for the vacant IBF middleweight title. The IBF ordered this fight after stripping Janibek Alimkhanuly following a failed doping test. Zuffa confirmed the date, but did not reveal the lineup.

For now, the squad is a measure of Zuffa’s ambitions in British and Irish boxing. Bournemouth will take first place on June 6 and Dublin on August 8.

Jordan questioned whether Joshua’s achievements lived up to the status he maintained for much of his professional career.

“Anthony, with all respect to him and his achievements, has risen to a higher level than he actually is,” Simon said on talkSport Boxing.

Jordan said he has long viewed Tyson Fury as the best fighter and returned to criticism he had previously made about Joshua’s resume and standing in the sport.

“I always said Tyson Fury was the better fighter, I looked at Anthony Joshua and I often said I thought he was a bully on a flat track.”

Jordan pointed to some of Joshua’s biggest wins and losses, wondering if these performances validate the level of praise he has received throughout his career.

Coach Peter Fury offered a more balanced assessment. While praising Joshua’s achievements as a two-time heavyweight champion, he suggested that the former champion relied heavily on his natural power and did not always maximize his technical skills.

“I think Joshua was a little bit lacking because he was relying on it too much. He’s always looking for that one shot, and if you’re looking for that one shot, that’s your boxing failure,” Peter said.

Joshua will return on July 25 against Kristian Prengi in Saudi Arabia. A two-fight contract has already been signed for the long-awaited clash with Tyson Fury, provided that both men make it to the scheduled fights.

Jordan later described the Fury-Joshua clash as “race to the bank arguing that its commercial appeal currently outweighs its sporting importance.

Conor Benn is expected to challenge WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia later this year, and ahead of the fight, his former promoter Eddie Hearn shared his predictions for the fight.

Benn left Hearn and Matchroom Boxing earlier this year under arduous circumstances, choosing to sign with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, abandoning his long-time promoter who had stood by him despite adversity – and unfavorable findings – leading to a heated and public conflict.

Since then Benn successfully returned to action in a 150-pound catchweight bout against Regis Prograisbut for the first time in over four years, he will fight at 147 pounds, challenging for Garcia’s title as the mandatory challenger.

I’m talking to Fighting Hub TVHearn had doubts whether the event should be held in the United States, and chose Ryan Garcia as the “huge favorite”.

“As for this fight, I think it’s a good fight. I don’t think it’s a huge fight in America, I think it’s a huge fight in the UK, obviously Ryan is a huge star in America, Conor isn’t. Ryan is a bigger star in the UK than Conor is in America, and Conor is a huge star in the UK.

“I don’t think it’s a fight that’s going to produce huge numbers, but I like the fight, I think it’s thrilling. I think at 147 pounds, Ryan is the huge favorite. I don’t think Conor should fight at 147 pounds. I like him at over 160 pounds or around that weight class.”

“I don’t see any way he can beat Ryan Garcia at 147 pounds.”

The Garcia vs. Benn event is expected to take place in Las Vegas in September, and Netflix will be a potential broadcaster of the bill.