REVENGE MISSION: EDDIE HEARN SIGNS UFC CHAMP TOM ASPINALL AFTER LOSING CONOR BENN
Eddie Hearn strikes back: Read about Tom Aspinall signing with Matchroom, Conor Benn’s $15M Zuffa deal, and the Dana White rivalry.
Dana White, the boss at UFC and the man behind Zuffa Boxing, just snagged Conor Benn away from Eddie Hearn. Although if we’re being honest, Benn did a lot of the heavy lifting himself with that $15 million price tag.
White was quick to celebrate, maybe a little too loudly, especially on the UFC side, but Hearn didn’t let him have the spotlight for long. Not even a week later, Hearn fired back by announcing he’d signed UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall to the Matchroom Talent Agency.
This back-and-forth between Hearn and White is turning into one of the more interesting rivalries in combat sports right now.
Zuffa Boxing’s move to grab Benn for a one-fight, $15 million deal definitely made waves. Benn, after all, spent ten years fighting under Hearn’s banner before jumping ship. Hearn hasn’t been shy about how much the move stings, especially since he’s been trading barbs with White nonstop.
But Hearn’s not just sitting around feeling sorry for himself. He went public on Instagram, welcoming Aspinall to the Matchroom squad. “Welcome to the team, UFC Heavyweight Champ @tomaspinallofficial,” Hearn posted. “Time to get what’s yours @matchroomtalentagency.”
It’s just the latest shot in their ongoing feud. White’s been out there calling Hearn soft for getting emotional about Benn leaving. Hearn, never one to back down, fired back in an interview, saying White doesn’t care about his fighters at all.
“I hear people’s comments, like Dana White calling me names and Terence Crawford asking if I actually care about these guys,” Hearn said. “I’m not saying I’m perfect, but we’re not like Dana White and his crew. They don’t give a damn about the fighters.
“Have you ever seen Dana White show any emotion when someone wins? He just hands over the belt, does a press conference, then heads home to his mansion with a cigar and a glass of whisky, thinking, ‘Life is sweet; we just made $800 million this year.’”
So what do you think about Tom Aspinall teaming up with Hearn’s agency? Is this a good move for Aspinall, or is it going to cause problems down the line? Let’s hear your thoughts.
NONITO DONAIRE FINALIZING JASON MOLONEY FIGHT FOR EUBANK JR UNDERCARD IN AUSTRALIA
Chris Eubank Jr. targets a career revival in Australia against Michael Zerafa, with Nonito Donaire set for a legendary co-feature.
Nonito Donaire is close to signing a deal to fight Jason Moloney, and there’s a good chance this matchup ends up on Chris Eubank Jr’s undercard.
Eubank Jr is expected to face Michael Zerafa in his first bout since losing to Conor Benn in their rematch. After overcoming some health problems, Eubank Jr is looking to get back in the ring, and talks are pointing toward an event in Australia later this year. Zerafa says negotiations are basically done.
Now, at 43, Donaire is hinting that the fight card is almost finalised. He told Ring Magazine, “Yeah, there’s a fight coming up between Chris Eubank Jr and Michael Zerafa. Being able to fight Jason Moloney on the same card is going to be great. We’ve been trying to make this fight for years, and now we’re having serious talks. There’s nowhere for him to hide. I’m going to his turf, and it’s going to be a really interesting fight. This is the shot, and it’ll be right under a great main event with Zerafa, who I’ll help train for Eubank Jr. Nobody’s taking this fight away from me. That’s what’s going on.”
Donaire lost his last fight when Riku Masuda stopped him in March, but he still believes he’s got something left to prove, even if he’s past his physical peak.
As for Eubank Jr, his future carries some big question marks. He didn’t look like himself in the rematch with Benn, and everyone saw his struggles in the ring. Still, with his drawing power, he’s convinced there are more big fights ahead. Beating Zerafa in Australia could give him a new audience and keep his name relevant. It may even help set up a run at a 168-pound world title before he hangs up the gloves.
And who knows if he beats Christian Mbilli for the WBC title in September, a Canelo Alvarez match could be back on the table.
FRANK WARREN WARNS JOSHUA VS FURY "IS TOAST" IF ANTHONY JOSHUA LOSES NEXT
Frank Warren has warned that the Joshua vs Fury fight will be cancelled if Anthony Joshua loses his next bout in Riyadh.
Frank Warren isn’t mincing words when it comes to Anthony Joshua’s comeback. The Queensberry boss put out a pretty blunt warning while explaining why the long-awaited Joshua vs Fury showdown might crash and burn despite both fighters finally signing on for a late-2026 clash.
Tensions have already been running high. After Tyson Fury’s unanimous win over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham in April, he didn’t waste time calling out Joshua. AJ shot right back, calling Fury a "clout chaser" and claiming, “I’m the boss; you work for me.” It’s classic heavyweight drama, and with promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren confirming the deal, fans are buzzing. It feels huge, like the old Bruno vs Lennox Lewis showdown in the ‘90s.
But there’s a catch. Everything could unravel if Joshua slips up in his next fight. He’s set to face off against Kristian Prenga, a guy barely anyone outside of Albania has heard of, in Riyadh. Warren says if Joshua loses, the massive Fury bout is toast, simple as that.
"If he loses to this guy, it kills the fight," Warren told the BBC, hinting the big bout could land as soon as late October. Warren also mentioned Fury might not want to sit around waiting and could squeeze in another fight first. “Tyson wants to keep busy,” Warren said. “For him, being in the gym isn’t just about staying in shape; it’s about his mental health too. He needs something to focus on a fight in the books. Right now, we don’t have that.”
If Fury does get past Joshua, what’s next? Warren says Fury, who’s now 37, is already thinking about unfinished business with Oleksandr Usyk. “Tyson has made it very plain he’d like to fight Usyk again. That could be the next step.”
Usyk is the only man to have beaten Fury in his nearly twenty-year career. He also handed Joshua two of his four losses, with Joshua’s other defeats coming from Daniel Dubois and Andy Ruiz Jr. The stakes couldn’t be higher.
