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
Jake Paul claims he would have made Canelo $300 million
Published
9 minutes agoon
May 16, 2026
Jake Paul responded to Canelo Alvarez after the undisputed super middleweight champion previously reacted to talk of a potential fight between the two with laughing emojis on social media.
While greeting fans and media during a public appearance this week, Jake was asked what financial terms he believed would be needed to make the fight happen.
“Yes, 200 [million] for him 300[millionformeWe’llfinalizethedealEasywork”-PaulsaidintheinterviewwithFightHubTVwhenaskedaboutapossibledealCanelo[millionformeWe’llgetthedealdoneEasywork”saidPaultoFightHubTVwhenaskedaboutapossibledealwithCanelo[milionówdlamnieSfinalizujemytransakcjęŁatwapraca”–powiedziałPaulwrozmowiezFightHubTVzapytanyomożliwąumowęzCanelo[millionformeWe’llgetthedealdoneEasywork”saidPaultoFightHubTVwhenaskedaboutapossibledealwithCanelo
The comment immediately drew attention due to the huge figure associated with the fight. Jake has continued to call for a fight with Canelo over the past year, despite criticism from many boxing fans and fighters who viewed the fight as unrealistic.
Jake was then asked about Canelo and responded with laughing emojis when the topic of a fight between the two came up online.
“I don’t know what that means, but he won’t laugh when I kick his ass,” Paul said.
The rivalry between the two continues to escalate publicly through interviews and exchanges on social media, even though no official negotiations have been announced.
Jake has mentioned Canelo multiple times in interviews over the past year, keeping the possibility of a future fight circulating despite widespread skepticism in boxing circles.
Canelo is currently scheduled to face Christian Mbilli later this year in Riyad, Saudi Arabia, while Jake continues to rehabilitate from injuries suffered in his December 2025 fight against Anthony Joshua.

Tomek Galm is a boxing journalist covering the global fight landscape since 2014, specializing in heavyweight analysis, industry trends and fighter psychology.
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Last updated: 16/05/2026 at 7:21
Boxing
Audley Harrison candid verdict on Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua: ‘He only has one way to win’
Published
2 hours agoon
May 16, 2026
Audley Harrison wondered how fellow Olympic gold medalist Anthony Joshua would fare against Tyson Fury later this year.
Both agreed to clash in the long-awaited heavyweight showdown, but only if “AJ” successfully completes his next fight against Kristian Prenga.
He hasn’t fought since knocking out Jake Paul in the sixth round in DecemberJoshua is now preparing for his clash with Prenga on July 25 in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.
This is his first assignment since he lost two of his closest friends in a car accident in Nigeria, where he was also involved in the tragic incident.
Naturally, he spent the next few months recovering from his injuries, although Joshua now appears to be getting closer to a showdown with Fury.
Meanwhile, “The Gypsy King” has already finished his pre-fight, ending a 16-month break with Arslanbek Makhmudov, whom he outpointed by unanimous decision last month.
Shortly after the triumphant victory, Fury called out Joshua, who was sitting at ringside, refusing to take part in the fight.
But at the same time, Harrison did he told Sky Sports that he saw a fire in the 36-year-old’s eyes, dazzling enough to suggest he was ready for the task ahead.
“From a boxing point of view, it’s a sexy fight because style makes fight.
“[Joshua] he can’t win the fight by trying to box Fury – he has to go in there, break him down and try to eliminate him. This is the only way he can win this fight.
“You’re fighting a champion boxer who knows how to slip [and] slide. after [Makhmudov] fight…he [Joshua] he looked at Fury [with intent].
“When they get into that fight, he’s going to take the fire – everything he went through after his friends died.”
Despite getting back into the win column after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, Fury clearly wants to enter his second warm-up fight.
Whether that happens remains to be seen, but he certainly wouldn’t be willing to risk a potential clash with Joshua.
Boxing
Mike Tyson Opens Up About Cus D’Amato and Cocaine on Theo Von Podcast
Published
4 hours agoon
May 16, 2026
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Mike Tyson appeared on comedian Theo Von’s podcast “This Past Weekend,” in which the 59-year-old former titleholder became visibly emotional while talking about his behind schedule mentor Cus D’Amato and offered unfiltered memories of his past struggles with cocaine addiction.
Tyson breaks down remembering Cus D’Amato
When asked by Von what period of his life he would most like to have documented on film, Tyson didn’t hesitate.
“That was when I first met my mentor Cus D’Amato,” Tyson said.
D’Amato, a coach from Catskill, Novel York, who previously coached Floyd Patterson and Jose Torres to world titles, adopted Tyson when he was 13 after meeting him at the Tryon School for Boys, a juvenile correctional facility in upstate Novel York. D’Amato became Tyson’s legal guardian after the death of Tyson’s mother in 1982, and trained him until D’Amato’s own death in November 1985, about a year before Tyson became the youngest heavyweight champion in history.
“I started boxing, I started changing my life. Then I met him. That’s the part I want you to come back to,” Tyson said on the podcast.
When Von asked how Tyson knew D’Amato loved him, the former champion’s voice broke and he covered his face with his hand.
“I had someone I loved and he loved me,” Tyson said.
Tyson explained that D’Amato protected him from criticism during his amateur years, and Von noted that the juvenile Tyson would attack anyone who spoke negatively about him. Tyson, clearly moved by the memory, asked Von to change the subject.
“So why are you making me talk about this nonsense? Stop it,” Tyson said.
Stories about cocaine
Elsewhere, Tyson described episodes from his well-documented history of cocaine apply, which he has discussed publicly many times over the years, including in his 2013 autobiography, “Undisputed Truth.”
Tyson told Von that he once didn’t sleep for four consecutive days while filming, and the drug caused scabs and bleeding in his nose. He said the supplier instructed him to take more cocaine for pain relief.
“I took the punch and wow, I feel better. I never knew. I just took the punch and went numb. It wasn’t numb anymore. It started bleeding. I had to take another punch to numb it,” Tyson recalled.
Tyson also recalled going to his personal doctor to ask for assist in quitting smoking, but the doctor asked Tyson for some of the medicine. The former champion said he later checked himself into a rehabilitation facility and gave the remaining supplies to a staff member, who Tyson said kept the drugs for himself.
“I gave him coke, my last coke. I said, ‘Here, I’ve got some coke.’ “The motherfucker took my Coke,” Tyson said.
Tyson’s recent activity
Tyson last fought professionally on November 15, 2024, losing a unanimous decision to Jake Paul over eight two-minute rounds at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. They said the event, which was streamed live on Netflix, attracted 108 million live viewers worldwide data published by the streaming platform.
Tyson’s professional record is 50-7 with 44 knockouts. In the years 1986-1990 he was the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion.
Theo Von’s full episode is available on the comedian’s This Past Weekend podcast.
Jake Paul claims he would have made Canelo $300 million
Audley Harrison candid verdict on Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua: ‘He only has one way to win’
Mike Tyson Opens Up About Cus D’Amato and Cocaine on Theo Von Podcast
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