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Dana White: ‘No problems’ with Hearn after business deal with Aspinall

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Dana White “has no problems with it.” Tom Aspinall signing a business deal with Eddie Hearn and denying he ever questioned his champion’s eye injury.

UFC heavyweight champion Aspinall (15-3) has signed with Matchroom Talent Agency, a modern initiative run by boxing promoter Hearn.

Aspinall remains under contract to fight in the UFC, but can now count on professional advice from Hearn, who has emerged as a rival to White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Zuffa signed Conor Benn, who had spent his entire professional boxing career at Matchroom, leaving Hearn disappointed.

White reacted to Aspinall welcoming Hearn into his inner circle, saying at the UFC 326 press conference: “We have no issues with Eddie.

“They can hire whoever they want to represent them. Tito Ortiz [the ex-UFC fighter whom White feuded with] he represented the people and we managed to do that.”

Dana White denies questioning Tom Aspinall’s injury

Aspinall spent 14 months away from fighting in the hope of meeting Jon Jones, which never materialized.

His interim heavyweight title was elevated to full status outside the Octagon when Jones retired, but his return to fight Ciril Gane ended in disaster.

The fight was declared a no-contest when Aspinall was unable to continue due to accidental pokes to the eyes.

White has not spoken to Aspinall since he underwent surgery on both eyes last month, but he denied ever questioning the severity of his injuries.

“The company has talked to him. I haven’t talked to him. Tom and I clearly need to talk,” White told Piers Morgan Uncensored. “Tom recently came out, his dad did too. They felt like I was their s–t when I talked about his eye injury, which absolutely wasn’t the case.

“Tom Aspinall is a guy I respect. He’s great to work with. I never once questioned his injury or talked negatively about him. I said, ‘I think he’s OK, I think he’ll be fine.’ And they came out and said, “No, it’s not like that.” He said, “I haven’t talked to Dan, I don’t know why he said that.” But of course my medical team is talking to him. That’s what I thought.

“They thought I kicked him in some way, which I absolutely didn’t and wouldn’t do. I like him a lot and I respect him a lot. I’ve never had a problem with Tom Aspinall. I have. He’s still struggling with what’s going on with his eyes. In the last 30 years in this business, I’ve seen injuries where I doubted guys could come back. And I always have. Including the eye pokes.”

“If you ask me, ‘Do I think Tom Aspinall will fight again?’ I would say, “Yes.”

Aspinall has no timetable for his return. He has previously expressed interest in a rematch with Gane.

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Shakur Stevenson called for a fight to unite stadiums: “It’s a dream”

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Rising star with 80% KO ratio says he has the key to beat Shakur Stevenson

Shakur Stevenson faces a tantalizing opportunity, but only at 140 pounds, as he considers possible opponents for his next fight.

It appears that the 28-year-old has not yet set a date for his next fight dethroning Teofimo Lopezthe then-WBO super-lightweight champion, who scored huge in January.

A world champion in four weight divisions, Stevenson is now looking for a challenge at 140 to 135 pounds, where he previously held the WBC title.

A name that has been mentioned multiple times is Raymond Muratalla, the IBF and Ring Magazine belt holder after he overtook Andy Cruz in January.

From Stevenson’s perspective, the possibility of becoming Ring Magazine’s three-division champion is what makes a potential fight with Muratalla particularly attractive.

At the same time, however, a unification bout with Dalton Smith at 140 pounds certainly deserves consideration later this year.

Like Stevenson, the WBC champion won the super lightweight world title in January, dethroning Subriel Matias with a fifth-round away victory.

To get his next assignment, Smith will have to face mandatory challenger Alberto Puello on June 6, headlining the Matchroom Boxing gala at the Sheffield Arena.

If he manages to defend his title, the 29-year-old is eager to face Stevenson in a transatlantic battle that he compares to Floyd Mayweather’s fight with Ricky Hatton.

I’m talking to Ring MagazineSmith said that ideally this “dream” fight would take place at Hillsborough Stadium – home of Sheffield Wednesday Football Club – or even Las Vegas.

“Of course [it’s a dream fight]. It’s just a repeat [Mayweather-Hatton]whether we do it in Hillsborough or on a huge night in Vegas.

“These are the fights that need to be fought – these are the most essential fights.”

Earlier in the interview, the Briton said he felt an obligation to continue his development to “do it for the people and ensure that huge fight nights come back to Sheffield.”

If Stevenson retains his WBO title, he could theoretically face Smith later this year, but perhaps by then he will be more likely to focus on alternative options.

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Jarrell Miller mocks Lenier Pero ahead of WBA eliminator in Las Vegas

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Image: Jarrell Miller says Lenier Pero has ‘no horsepower’ before eliminator

Miller and Pero will meet Saturday night at Fontainebleau in Las Vegas in a fight that could give the winner a much stronger position in the heavyweight division. At Thursday’s news conference, Miller made it clear he intended to make the preparation as raucous as the fight.

“It’s like a Lotus Elise sports car: quite swift, not very powerful, nimble in the corners,” Miller said. “I’m like a huge garbage truck and I’m going to fucking run him over.”

Although he still doesn’t have a name, the 37-year-old version of Miller is fighting for survival. Since his return in 2023, his record hasn’t screamed “title contender.”

For Miller, the fight against Pero is his last chance to stay relevant. At the age of 37, another loss, especially to a wiser, younger Cuban like Pero, will likely relegate him to an opponent for the rest of his career.

He still tries to apply that same Brooklyn swagger to annoy Pero, but the stakes are completely different now. In 2019, he was an undefeated contender with the world at his feet. In 2026, he will be a veteran who wants to prove that he is not just a “garbage truck” with a dead battery.

The Brooklyn heavyweight has long relied on pressure, high intensity and personality, and he promised more of the same against the Cuban.

“It’s not going to be pretty. He may run away, but I’m going to grab his ass and when I do, his goose will be cooked, plain and straightforward,” Miller said.

Pero didn’t match Miller’s acting, but he dismissed the argument and said the real answer would come after the first bell.

“He said a lot of nonsense, but it doesn’t affect me mentally in any way,” Pero said. “I’m going to go in there and break him. I talk with my fists in the ring.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn described the contest as an significant heavyweight fight in which the winner will take a significant step towards greater opportunities.

Miller missed out on a fight with Anthony Joshua in 2019 that would have made him a opulent man and set him up for life. He tested positive for a banned substance and was subsequently replaced by Andy Ruiz Jr.

That huge “what if” question must have haunted him every time he looked at his bank account. That $5 million plus the payout for the Joshua fight was Miller’s golden ticket to the elite level of the sport. Instead, he watched as Andy Ruiz Jr. walks into Madison Square Garden, shocks the world and becomes a global superstar while Miller was sidelined and serving probation.

If Pero can handle the early pressure and take advantage of Miller’s aging gas tank, the “goose is cooked” statement could prove prophetic for Miller’s career.

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Deontay Wilder summoned by a fierce rival after years of sparring sessions ended with a hospital stay

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Deontay Wilder called out by bitter rival years after sparring session ended in hospital trip

Deontay Wilder is likely to have another major fight before the end of the year following his success against Derek Chisora, and now one of his fiercest rivals has called for a “personal” grudge fight.

Wilder made it two straight wins for the first time since 2019, first beating Tyrrell Herndon in a low-key comeback last June and then winning a split decision over Derek Chisora ​​earlier this month.

After the victory over Chisora, it seems that the “Bronze Bomber” has returned to competition in an crucial fight, either for the world title or against an opponent who will challenge him for the belts.

However, talking to Fighting Hub TVfellow American Jarrell Miller downplayed Wilder’s recent resurgence, unimpressed with his victory over “Del Boy”.

“Fuck no [I wasn’t impressed by his performance against Chisora]. He looked like a super b***h. I don’t think Chisora ​​was 100% ready for this fight because compared to the last three fights Chisora ​​had, his conditioning was much better, he looked much stronger [in those fights].

“He looked a little flat in it and Deontay looked like a super b***h.

Miller then admitted that he would love the opportunity to meet his 40-year-old compatriot, stating that their rivalry had become personal due to the situation involving Wilder’s former fiancée.

“I would love to fight Deontay, but Deontay repeatedly said, ‘I will never fight Miller,’ and then when I said more bullshit, ‘I will never fight Miller because he was so disrespectful.’ I said, ‘You’re a punk bitch, we’re fighters, bro!’

“It’s kind of personal because he took it personally. I never said it personally, I always respected him as an older brother because we went to camp a few times, but then he took his ex’s word for it about some things I told him and took it the wrong way. Then he came and found out that I was right.”

“He took it personally… Like I say bro, he didn’t listen to that motto before he did it – now he feels the wrath of that shit.”

The pair have been exchanging blows for years, including: Wilder previously claimed he sent Miller to hospital after a particularly brutal sparring session.

On Saturday night, Miller fights WBA No. 2 Lenier Perowanting to prove that he is the United States’ best chance at regaining the heavyweight title.

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