2024 has proven to be a turning point for world boxing, with Saudi investment ensuring that the biggest possible fights in the sport become makable and also introducing concepts such as the ‘5 vs. 5’ promotional battles. Now, Hearn has laid out five proposed contests for a showdown between his Matchroom fighters and those of Oscar De La Hoya’s ‘Golden Boy’ stable.
Hearn and co. went toe-to-toe with Frank Warren’s ‘Queensberry Promotions’ but fell well short of expectations, resulting in an embarrassing whitewash for Team Matchroom – with Daniel Dubois’ knockout of Anthony Joshua adding additional salt to their wounds just three months later.
Frank Warren has now signed a broadcasting deal with DAZN, which will allow both he and Hearn to stage cards on the same platform and open up further opportunities for ‘5 vs. 5’ bills down the line.
The promotional duo are expected to rematch during 2025 and were ready to do so on February 22nd, but an injury to Anthony Joshua has resulted in that event being pushed back.
Instead, Hearn is now flirting with the idea of going up against another fierce rival in Oscar De La Hoya and ‘Golden Boy Promotions’, particularly after the latter revealed that he ‘would love to’ be involved in a card of that nature against the Brit.
On social media, Hearn named five potential match-up’s that he and De La Hoya could make for a ‘5 vs. 5’ show, three of which involve current world champions, that he labelled as ‘easy work’.
Boots v Ryan, Shakur v Zepeda, Ortiz v Madrimov, Zurdo v Opetaia, Catterall v Ramirez = easy work! https://t.co/PcIwoQ9oAC
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) November 6, 2024
“Boots [Jaron Ennis] v Ryan [Garcia], Shakur [Stevenson] v [William] Zepeda, [Vergil] Ortiz v [Israil] Madrimov, Zurdo [Ramirez] v [Jai] Opetaia, [Jack] Catterall v [Jose Carlos] Ramirez = easy work!”
Despite Hearn’s suggestions, it is rumoured that Shakur Stevenson will face William Zepeda on the February 22nd card headlined by Daniel Dubois.
Meanwhile, five of the other eight names mentioned are already scheduled to fight within the next few weeks – meaning any possible event against De La Hoya would be unlikely to happen before April 2025, especially considering Ryan Garcia’s ongoing ban.
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