Matchroom’s CEO this week unveiled his recent venture as a talent management company intended to represent athletes and entertainers across several industries. The announcement comes as recent promoters and immense investment groups enter the boxing market, including Zuffa’s recent entry into the sport, which has attracted industry-wide attention.

Hearn rejected the suggestion that the timing of the agency’s creation was linked to these changes, saying the concept was already in development.

“These conversations have been going on for ages, mostly about football,” Hearn said.

Matchroom Talent Agency becomes part of the company’s existing boxing, darts and snooker activities, but the recent division focuses on representation rather than event promotion. Hearn described it as a management operation designed to aid clients gain commercial opportunities and public exposure.

“It’s a management company … like any sports agency or athlete representation company that represents athletes and fighters,” Hearn said.

The agency does not limit itself to professional athletes. Hearn said the plan is to also work with people outside of sports, including entertainment figures.

“We don’t limit ourselves to sports… if you are an actor, a musician, we want to work with you,” he said.

Matchroom has been promoting events across several sports for decades, but the creation of a talent agency brings the company closer to the commercial side of athletes’ careers. Hearn said the move reflects Matchroom’s experience working with broadcasters, sponsors and media partners across a range of sporting and international events.

The company expects to announce additional contract signings once the agency begins operations. Hearn said the long-term goal is to represent talent across sport, entertainment and media, while continuing Matchroom’s work promoting events in boxing and other sports around the world.

Jai Opetai’s quest for undisputed status took a huge hit after the IBF stripped the Australian of the cruiserweight title following confirmation that Zuffa’s championship would be treated as a world title.

Opetaia has repeatedly said his goal is to become undisputed. Even at his final press conference, minutes before the IBF released its statement, Opetaia insisted the belt was on the line.

Directly responding to a question from Fight Hub’s Marcos Villegas, Opetaia said: “Yes, the IBF title is in the pipeline. Don’t listen to everything you hear on the internet because everyone is spreading rumors.”

However, these “rumors” were not like that. World Boxing News reported that the IBF was only considering sanctioning the fight and that an announcement would be made.

Ironically, for Opetai, these explanations came shortly after his own comments and contradicted everything he had confirmed to Villegas.

Zuffa’s undisputed plan

The IBF has already clarified that it is not involved in this event, stating: “The IBF has not had any discussions regarding this fight with any direct representative of Zuffa Boxing.”

The IBF also emphasized boxing’s ultimate goal for champions.

“The pursuit of undisputed status – by unifying the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles – represents the highest ambition in sport.”

Following the IBF’s ruling, it now seems highly unlikely that any other sanctioning bodies will allow one of their titles to be on the line with Zuffa.

USA Boxing withdraws

The event came just hours after USA Boxing withdrew its support for proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Act that could have allowed the Zuffa championship structure to exist under the current system.

In a letter sent to members of Congress, the governing body clarified that the earlier correspondence “does not represent the official position of USA Boxing” and confirmed that “the Board hereby withdraws this letter.”

The blow to the body puts Opetai’s unquestionable ambitions into solemn doubt.

What was initially presented as the path to boxing’s ultimate achievement – unifying the IBF, WBA, WBC and WBO titles – instead removed the first belt required to begin that journey.

It is unclear at this stage whether Zuffa made any promises during the negotiations.

It is clear that Opetaia is currently under contract to Zuffa and if sanctioning authorities continue to withhold recognition, the Australian currently has no realistic path to an undisputed position once signed with the company.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

After months of uncertainty, it appears that Devin Haney will clash with Rolando Romero. As speculation mounts, two-division champion Tim Bradley offered his predictions for the fight he believes could see a stoppage.

Becoming the undisputed lightweight champion of the world with a victory over George Kambosos Jr., Haney defended his 135-pound throne in a rematch with the Australian and then against Vasyl Lomachenko to climb up the rankings pound-for-pound.

“The Dream” then dethroned WBC super lightweight champion Regis Prograis in his 140-pound debut and did the same at welterweight when in his first fight at 147 pounds, he won Brian Norman’s WBO belt.

Now Haney is being linked to a unification fight with WBA titleholder Romero Tim Bradley told his YouTube channel that he believes Haney can secure his first stoppage win since 2019 if he and “Rolly” collide.

“[Haney] put [Brian] Norman is lying on the ground, he said [Regis] Prograis’s** on the ground. I don’t understand why he can’t knock Romero’s ass to the ground if he hits him in the right place at the right time. With his timing, yes, he can give it his all too.

“I can even see that if Devin takes over early or midfield, I can even see Devin being able to stop Romero on defense. There are places to put pressure on Romero.”

“You put him on the back burner because he doesn’t have a lot of amateur experience, right, so I still see some nervousness in his game when you start putting pressure on him.”

Saturday, May 30, is the advertised unification date as Haney and Romero look to establish themselves as the man to beat in the welterweight division.