Zuffa Boxing have added another cruiserweight contender to their ranks, in Canadian knockout artist Ryan “The Bruiser” Rozicki.
In a statement sent to Boxing Social it says that Rozicki (21-1-1, 20 KOs) “has signed a multi-fight contract with the company” and that “Rozicki’s Zuffa Boxing debut will be announced in the coming weeks.”
The news of the 31-year-old joining Dana White’s boxing venture comes just days after the announcement of former WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Billam-Smith also linking up with Zuffa. With former IBF world champion Jai Opetaia breaking headlines as the first major name to link up with White and Zuffa earlier this year, Rozicki’s capture offers boxing fans some serious fights at 200 pounds. Opetaia became the first Zuffa title holder with a unanimous-decision against Brandon Glanton in March.
“I’m excited for this next chapter and the opportunity to be part of what Zuffa is building,” Rozicki said in the same statement. “I’m excited for this next chapter and the opportunity to be part of what Zuffa is building. My team has done an incredible job getting me to this point and making sure everything is in place for me to succeed at the highest level. This is a big platform, and I’m ready to get to work and make a statement.”
Rozicki is currently ranked in first place by the WBC, but has struggled to nail down an official title shot with the governing body. The Canadian is also ranked in 11th spot by the IBF, an organization that has not had the best start with Zuffa, who recently stripped Opetaia of its world title due to fighting for the inaugural Zuffa world title.
Rozicki has fought exclusively in his native Canada. His one loss comes in a WBC bridgerweight world title fight with Oscar Rivas in 2021. He comes off a second round stoppage victory against Gerardo Mellando last month in Sydney, Nova Scotia.
Zuffa have added some serious talent to their promotion in the past weeks. Alongside the two major additions at cruiserweight, super middleweight contender Edgar Berlanga and current IBF super lightweight world champion Richardson Hitchins have joined the team.