EDDIE HEARN OFFICIALLY BLOCKS WHITTAKER VS MORRELL; SUAREZ FIGHT REMAINS FOR APRIL
Ben Whittaker headlines Liverpool on April 18! Eddie Hearn explains why he rejected David Morrell for Braian Suarez.
Eddie Hearn isn’t having any of this talk about Ben Whittaker fighting David Morrell, at least not yet. As he sees it, Whittaker’s just not ready for that kind of step up, and that’s fine. Hearn made it clear he wants Whittaker to keep moving forward, but to do it the right way, matching him carefully as he builds experience.
He didn’t sugarcoat it, either. Hearn put Morrell right up there with the top guys at light heavyweight. In his eyes, Whittaker isn’t in that league yet. The British fighter’s got an Olympic silver medal, sure, and he’s undefeated so far, but he hasn’t even fought a full 12-rounder yet. That’s a sign for Hearn and his team that he’s not ready to jump in with elite opponents.
“We’re not fighting at that level yet,” Hearn said. He figures Whittaker probably needs three or four more fights before taking on someone like Morrell.
Next up, Whittaker headlines in Liverpool on April 18, facing Argentina’s Braian Nahuel Suarez in a 10-rounder. He only got bumped up to the main event because Callum Smith pulled out with an injury. Smith was supposed to take on Morrell that night. With Smith out, Morrell went straight to social media to call Whittaker out: “Ben Whittaker, I’m ready to fight April 18th. How are you older than me and still a prospect? Let’s give the fans the fight they want to see!”
But Hearn isn’t budging. Whittaker’s got Suarez locked in after a short training camp, and they’re not swapping him out for someone as dangerous as Morrell at the last minute.
If Whittaker wins in Liverpool, he’s already got a return date pencilled in June 27, against an American opponent still to be named. If he comes through that, Hearn says they’ll look at a step up with British contenders like Anthony Yarde or Lyndon Arthur before a shot at a world title comes into the picture.
Fans haven’t been thrilled, honestly. A lot of them are frustrated with the slow pace and level of Whittaker’s opponents so far. He turns 29 on June 6, and people are starting to wonder when he’s actually going to take on the big names.
For now, though, Hearn’s message is pretty simple: no shortcuts. Morrell, meanwhile, is still waiting for a new fight date after the Smith pullout, itching to get back in the ring after his own training camp.
HOW DANIEL DUBOIS SURVIVED TWO KNOCKDOWNS TO STOP A BLOODY FABIO WARDLEY
"I had to dig deep." Read Daniel Dubois' full reaction to his stunning comeback victory against Fabio Wardley in Manchester.
The punch that changed everything wasn't thrown by either of the fighters.
Fabio Wardley came out blazing in his title defence, dropping Daniel Dubois just 10 seconds in. He did it again in the third round, making it look like his big night. But then, something strange happened. As Dubois got up after the fourth round, his trainer, Don Charles, slapped him hard on both cheeks.
That’s when Dubois woke up. “I had to make him realise what he needed to do,” Charles said afterwards. It’s not exactly the kind of thing you see at team-building seminars, but it worked. Dubois turned on, and suddenly Wardley’s reign started to unravel.
Wardley had picked Dubois for the first fight since collecting the WBO belt that Oleksandr Usyk dropped. Honestly, it looked like a smart pick: he dropped Dubois twice and set the tone. But after that slap, Dubois started seeing Wardley’s moves coming; those wild lunges became easier to dodge.
He landed his stiff jab and followed up with savage right hands. Wardley’s jaw somehow took the hits, but his nose was pouring blood, and his right eye was almost swollen shut. He kept pushing forward, showing crazy heart, while Dubois just kept piling on. The fight turned into a brutal spectacle, the kind you can’t look away from.
Wardley got checked twice by doctors but kept fighting. Honestly, it could've stopped before the second-to-last round, when referee Howard Foster finally stepped in. Dubois got his second world title; Wardley, battered and worn, just managed a thumbs up to his mum.
Dubois summed it up later: “I had to dig really deep. When you’re a warrior, you go to dark places. I was nervous at first, all over the place, and had to fight my own battles. That slap woke me up. My dad and everyone were in my corner; I couldn’t let them down.
“Fabio came to fight; he was tough. We were exhausted; it was a real war. I had to use all my skills to win. Great fight, great battle, and I’m No. 1 again.” Sure, Usyk might argue about that, but Dubois proved something; he got up off the canvas and won.
People have called Dubois a quitter since the Joe Joyce fight six years ago. Wardley himself thought Dubois would fold again in Manchester, and for three rounds it looked like he was right until reality snapped Dubois awake.
HEARN HITS BACK: CONTRACT DISPUTE THREATENS DANA WHITE’S MASSIVE FURY VS AJ PROMOTION
"This year is the busiest of my career." Read Dana White’s full statement on promoting the Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight.
Dana White is set to take the lead as promoter for the upcoming clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
After a long wait, Fury and Joshua will finally face off later this year in what promises to be a major British heavyweight showdown.
The fight is lined up to happen, provided both fighters navigate their respective warm-up bouts first. Joshua is expected to step into the ring against Kristian Prenga on July 25.
This event is shaping up to be massive, with the fighters’ usual promoters, Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, continuing to represent them.
Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh will be backing the event financially, and it’s slated to be broadcast live on Netflix.
In a surprising move, Dana White from Zuffa Boxing has announced he’ll be the one promoting the fight.
White said, “This year is hands down the busiest of my career. I’m travelling widely, fully focused on Zuffa Boxing, signing fighters and putting on solid fights. We’ve also struck a deal with Sky in the UK, so look out for quality matchups there. And yeah, I’ll be promoting the Tyson Fury vs AJ fight.”
His role doesn’t come without complications, though, especially since Hearn and Warren are often viewed as rivals.
Tensions between White and Hearn have been rising recently, particularly after White signed Conor Benn, which didn’t sit well with Hearn.
White’s ability to lead this event comes largely through Alalshikh’s backing, who has been a key financial supporter of the UFC Boxing initiative.
Unsurprisingly, Eddie Hearn responded sharply to White’s announcement.
Calling White a clout chaser, Hearn dismissed the idea as contractually impossible and challenged White to back his words.
With this level of friction, things might get even more heated in the weeks ahead.
No official date or venue has been announced yet for the fight, but there’s hope among fans that it will take place in the UK.
