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Out now: Hearn talks Joshua-Fury, Bam and more on Mr. Verzace Podcast
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Out now: Hearn talks Joshua-Fury, Bam and more on Mr. Verzace Podcast
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Six months into the new year, Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn is back alongside The Ring's Rick Reeno and in his usual enthusiastic mood.
He featured previously in episode four alongside Anthony Joshua before his sixth-round knockout of Jake Paul in Miami on December 19, after which plenty has happened.
Bound to continue after personal tragedy, Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) will return against Albania's big-punching Kristian Prenga live on DAZN PPV come July 26 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The plan is simple. Deliver another highlight reel knockout, look good doing it and set up the long-awaited Tyson Fury bout, one Hearn believes will capture the imagination worldwide. For many years, this felt like a pipe dream.
"The dynamics between promoters has changed, doing more business than ever between themselves. A good fight and good build-up equals success. If me and Frank Warren had the relationship we have now, that [AJ-Fury] fight would've got made without doubt. You're always going to get the naysayers that say it's not quite as big but when these two come face-to-face, the world will stop," he told The Ring's Rick Reeno.
"When they walk into the ring in November, the front and back page of every national paper will be about this fight. It's by far the biggest fight in boxing and in British boxing history but we have the small matter of July 25 — and probably August 1 with Fury — just to overcome, to get the fight we've always dreamed of."
Although Queensberry reeled off a clean sweep at their expense two years ago, there are talks in place for a 7v7 to take place later this year. U.S. based promotional company Top Rank have been increasingly amenable to do business with Matchroom, brokering championship contests and 50-50 fights in recent times too.
"We've made Muratalla-Cruz, Nunez-Navarrete, Ford-Foster, Zayas-Boots, Cordina-Mason in the first six months of the year. What it's really taught you is, not everyone is the same but we all share one passion: love for boxing."
Bam Rodriguez's bantamweight debut is among the topic of conversation, as Hearn heads back stateside to oversee the Ring and unified 115-pound champion's foray into the unknown against WBA beltholder Antonio Vargas.
Here, they discuss several topics including:
  • How Joshua would have fared against Rico Verhoeven, had it gone ahead
  • Verhoeven rematch or Kabayel next? What move should Oleksandr Usyk make
  • The importance of Anthony Joshua 'doing a job' on former kickboxer Kristian Prenga
  • Making sense of potentially boxing UFC, Zuffa chief Dana White
  • Japan on Netflix in December or January... how real is Bam Rodriguez-Naoya Inoue?
  • Predicting Jaron Ennis will produce 'superstar' showing vs. Xander Zayas
  • Jack Catterall, a world champion in waiting as Rolly Romero nears return
  • How Matchroom's schedule looks like, the rest of 2026 with Mexico, Australia shows
Their full sit-down interview is now available to watch and stream across all platforms. Enjoy the episode! 🥊💥
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Eddie Hearn On AJ knocking Fury out, Dana White, Bam vs. Inoue and more | Mr Verzace Podcast | EP.26
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