Boxing
Eddie Hearn reacts to Dana White signing Jai Opetaia: ‘That’s probably where the problem started’
Published
4 months agoon
Jai Opetaia recently became Dana White and Zuffa Boxing’s first addition to the championship. He was previously co-promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom.
Opetaia became IBF world champion for the first time in 2022. He was stripped of the belt in 2023 for refusing to face a mandatory challenger, but quickly regained the belt a year later. Since then, he has loudly called for unification fights, especially against WBA and WBO champion Gilberto Ramirez.
The fearsome cruiserweight king announced his move earlier this week ahead of Zuffa’s inaugural gala in Las Vegas. This is a statement signed by the newest boxing event in the city, but it caused some confusion among fans.
White has made clear in recent months that he has no intention of working with the sport’s four major sanctioning bodies and was expected to focus on the Ring magazine belt and the creation of the Zuffa title. However, revealing that he had signed a contract with the UFC boss, Opetaia said he was still looking for the remaining three recognized belts.
I’m talking to IFL TelevisionHearn revealed it partnership – joint promotion with Tasman Fighters – has started to decline over the last six months.
“We haven’t promoted Jai for over two years, since the Jordan Thompson fight. Everything we’ve done around Jai, we do with Mick Francis and Tasman Fighters. For the last three fights, all in Australia, we were not the organizers. For the first fight, Turki Alalshikh and I contributed a lot of money to sponsorship. For the second fight with the Italian, which we were not involved in at all. And for the third fight, which is probably where the problem arose, DAZN dropped him.
“They didn’t make an offer to air the fight. I feel like we didn’t do much during that period. More importantly, I wasn’t able to give Jai the fights that people wanted to see him fight. Which isn’t his fault, and it’s not really my fault, because Zurdo Ramirez wasn’t available or didn’t want to do the fight in my opinion.”
Hearn then admitted that the champion had to make the decision to benefit from his career after “treading water”, then praising the deal with the stipulation that it provided unification fights.
“I hope this deal gives him what he wants. I know there’s confusion about Zuffa not recognizing the belts, but Jai and Mick [Francis] they say this will lead us to uncontested fights. I think the message is everywhere, it doesn’t really matter. The problem will continue to be getting him those fights. You have the Benavidez-Zurdo game in May, so these guys won’t be available until November, December.
“So what is the plan for Jai? Probably, if the plan is true to his words, he will unify. There is only one other champion, so next he will fight the WBC champion, Mikaelian. Which I think is brilliant for him. As long as he does it and as long as it actually happens, I think it was the best move Jai and Mick could have made.”
News of Opetai’s first fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner is expected soon, and White has now said that in situations like this he will initially cooperate with the major sanctioning bodies.
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Boxing
Zuffa Boxing 07 debuts in the UK: Billam-Smith vs. Rozicki preview
Published
1 hour agoon
June 5, 2026
On Saturday, June 6, Zuffa Boxing will host its first event on British soil, when former cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith will face Canadian Ryan Rozicki at the Bournemouth International Centre. The card, billed as Zuffa Boxing 07, airs live Sky Sports in the UK and Ireland and streaming on Paramount+ in the United States and Canada. The main card starts at 7 p.m., with walk-ins scheduled for the main event at around 10 p.m.
The event is the first UK edition of Zuffa Boxing, a promotion created by TKO Group Holdings and Saudi entertainment company Sela and run by Dana White, Nick Khan and General Entertainment Authority CEO Turki Alalshikh. according to ESPN. This follows a multi-year broadcasting deal between Zuffa and Sky Sports announced in March.
Main event
Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KO) returns to his hometown for his first fight in over a year. The Bournemouth fighter held the WBO cruiserweight title in 2023 and 2024 before losing it, and has fought at the Bournemouth International Center several times before. He is coached by Shane McGuigan, who stated in promotional materials released for the card that Billam-Smith is constantly improving. Billam-Smith also said a future meeting with cruiserweight champion Zuffa Jai Opetaia influenced his decision to sign with the promotion, telling Sky Sports the fight “will definitely happen.”
Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KO), of Sydney Forks, Nova Scotia, has one of the highest strike rates on the card. He has been a professional since 2016 and his record since 2016 is 8-0-1 with seven knockouts, with 18 of his stoppages coming within three rounds. The cruiserweight fight is scheduled for 10 rounds.
Cooperation and fight in the heavyweight division
In a 10-round cruiserweight fight, Jack Massey (23-3, 13 KO) will face Chev Clarke (11-2, 8 KO). In the preliminary stage of the gala, the return of two-time Olympic bronze medalist from Kazakhstan Ivan Dychko (15-1, 14 KO) heavyweight against undefeated Briton Harvey Dykes (7-0-1). The 180 cm elevated Dychko is fighting for the first time since his defeat to Jermaine Franklin in September 2025. Dykes turned professional in 2023 after winning super heavyweight gold at the English National Amateur Championships.
British signatures to the bill
The card also features several recent Zuffa signings making their debuts with the organization, including Scotland’s Sam Hickey (4-0, 1 KO), welterweight Alex MacMillan (3-0, 2 KO) and lightweight heavyweight Leon Hughes (4-0, 3 KO). Hickey won gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games as an amateur and turned professional under the guidance of Team GB performance director Rob McCracken.
Full card
- Chris Billam-Smith (21-2, 13 KO) vs. Ryan Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KO), cruiserweight, 10 rounds
- Jack Massey (23-3, 13 KO) vs. Chev Clarke (11-2, 8 KO), cruiserweight, 10 rounds
- Lee Cutler (15-2, 7 KO) vs. Aaron Sutton (19-2, 3 KO), middleweight, 10 rounds
- Stevie McKenna (15-1, 14 KO) vs. Casey James Streeter (15-3-2, 6 KO), middleweight, 8 rounds
- Sam Hickey (4-0, 1 KO) vs. Todd Tompkins (4-0), middleweight, 6 rounds
- Harvey Dykes (7-0-1) vs Ivan Dychko (15-1, 14 KO), heavyweight, 10 rounds
- Leon Hughes (4-0, 3 KO) vs. Mario Vergiev (8-4, 5 KO), lightweight heavyweight, 6 rounds
- Alex MacMillan (3-0, 2 KO) vs. Tyler Rivers (6-3), welterweight, 6 rounds
The three-fight preliminary card begins at 5 p.m., with the main card following at 7 p.m.
Boxing
Ryan Garcia wants to train with Naoya Inoue in Tokyo and broadcast it live
Published
3 hours agoon
June 5, 2026
My plan in Tokyo is to do some training with Inoue. That would be great!!!!! And stream it
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) June 5, 2026
The proposed sessions would bring together two world champions from different weight categories. Ryan currently holds the WBC welterweight title and Inoue is the undisputed junior featherweight champion.
A notable part of Ryan’s post was his willingness to stream workouts.
One of the things Ryan mentioned in his X post was his desire to stream workouts. Ryan didn’t say whether he would bring the idea to Naoya to see if he agreed with it or not, nor did he give a date when he would train with the Japanese star.
At this stage, Ryan’s comments appear to reflect purpose rather than final findings. Although he has publicly outlined the plan, Inoue has not announced any potential training session.
If training takes place, they will bring together champions separated by more than 20 pounds in weight. Ryan is fighting in the welterweight division, and Inoue is building his championship streak in the junior featherweight division.
The idea remains one Ryan hopes to implement during his visit to Tokyo, with the added possibility of giving fans a glimpse of the session via livestream.
Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fight landscape. His reports focus on the most essential fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
Boxing
Tyson Fury ‘very interested’ in fighting ‘one of the most avoided heavyweights’: ‘Let’s do it’
Published
5 hours agoon
June 5, 2026
Tyson Fury is set to take part in the long-awaited clash with Anthony Joshua, but first he needs a warm-up. Now another challenger has been added to the fight, and Fury is “very interested” in the proposed fight.
The long-awaited clash between Fury and Joshua has finally been signed and will take place pending success in their tune-up fights. While Joshua is scheduled to face Kristian Prenga next month, Fury remains without an opponent for his August outing.
Promoter Frank Warren promised a “good” opponent but he recently ruled out the possibility of the “Gypsy King” facing Joshua’s former defeater Andy Ruiz Jr., who is believed to have priced himself out of the fight.
I’m talking to Play UKJoshua’s other rival, Jarrell Miller, has revealed that Fury is “very interested” in fighting him as he discusses a potential all-American clash with Deontay Wilder.
“I’ve been one of the most avoided heavyweights for a long time. We’re seeing it now. We’re trying to get Deontay Wilder out there. There’s no fight in front of him. I’m the top heavyweight in America right now, so we’re trying to make certain things happen. Let’s see if he can take control.”
“Tyson Fury is also very interested. I would love to fight these guys. Deontay or Tyson would be a wonderful fight for me. Let’s see if we can make it happen.”
Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, recently confirmed both fighters’ desire to make the fight happen, but said Miller would likely not be able to complete a full training camp on time.
The American has already scored two victories in 2026, defeating both Kingsley Ibeh and Lenier Pero, and the 37-year-old hopes those triumphs will earn him another chance on the huge stage.
“I’m not interested in belts” – Ryan Rozicki talks about changing Zuffa Boxing
Zuffa Boxing 07 debuts in the UK: Billam-Smith vs. Rozicki preview
Ryan Garcia wants to train with Naoya Inoue in Tokyo and broadcast it live
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