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Eddie Hearn reacts to Dana White signing Jai Opetaia: ‘That’s probably where the problem started’

Published

6 months ago

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Hearn, Opetaia and White

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

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

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2 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

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Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

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4 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

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Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Published

4 hours ago

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July 25, 2026

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Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.

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