Eddie Hearn has warned Jai Opetaia’s biggest rival against “taking the p***” as the popular UK promoter readies for what he says will be a monstrous Matchroom assault on Australian boxing in 2026.
Fresh off his hyped Netflix documentary The Greatest Showman, Hearn has confirmed himself ready for “a big play” Down Under over the next year – with a superfight between Opetaia and Dmitry Bivol among several options being discussed.
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Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Hearn also talked up the possibility of an all-Australian showdown between George ‘Ferocious’ Kambosos and Liam Wilson, plus the possibility of Liam Paro’s impending world title eliminator headlining a Brisbane pay-per-view in January.
More immediately, the popular UK promoter has also taken aim at the “crazy” fight demands of the man Opetaia most wants to throw down against in 2026 – Mexican superstar Gilberto ‘Zurdo’ Ramirez.
Earlier this month, Opetaia’s manager Mick Francis revealed how Ramirez and his promoter Oscar de la Hoya have been demanding a $12 million purse to make the fight happen.
Apart from branding said request “crazy”, Hearn also suggested Saudi billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh likely thought the pair were “taking the p***”.
Elsewhere, the agent also revealed various other plans for a Matchroom stable boasting the likes of Justis Huni, Conor Wallace, Skye Nicolson and Teremoana Jnr.
Hearn also stressed his commitment to ensuring Opetaia finally gets his chance to become an undisputed division king.
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IS OPETAIA BEING DUCKED BY RAMIREZ?
While Opetaia will make yet another defence of his IBF and Ring cruiserweight titles in December – against mandatory Huseyin Cinkara – Hearn conceded the fight everyone wants to see involves Ramirez.
While the Mexican champ is currently recovering from shoulder surgery, Hearn questioned if the 34-year-old really wants to fight Opetaia given his team has been asking for a purse recently revealed to be $12 million.
Earlier this month, Francis confirmed to Fox Sports Australia that Team Ramirez had requested a “ridiculous” US$8 million from Turki Al-Sheikh to make the fight.
Hearn added that His Excellency had already put a worth on the fight, with himself, Opetaia and Francis had already signed off on their end of the contract.
“We’ve agreed to a deal,” Hearn said. “We had an offer from Turki and we’ve agreed to a price.
“But then Ramirez came back with a number that was just crazy.
“And Turki is a guy that if you start with a number that’s too high, he thinks you’re taking the piss out of him.
“And he’ll say ‘OK, don’t worry about it’ – then move on with making his next fight.
“And that’s what I think has happened.”
GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA – JUNE 08: Jai Opetaia of Australia poses after victory in his IBF Cruiserweight Title bout against Claudio Squeo of Italy at Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre on June 08, 2025 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
Asked if Ramirez and his promoter Oscar de la Hoya were deliberately pricing themselves out of the fight, Hearn continued: “Asking for the money they did, that’s sometimes a sign you don’t want the fight.
“But after Jai gets this next fight [against Cinkara] done, there isn’t anyone else people want to see him fight.
“Obviously whoever holds the WBC belt is an option, but it’s primarily Gilberto Ramirez.
“Yet it all comes down to the other fighter.
“And maybe they don’t want the fight.
“Oscar de la Hoya knows his boxing.
“And while the rivalry between himself and I is more friendly now, he doesn’t want to lose to us.
“He knows how good Jai is.
“Of course, Ramirez is good too and it won’t be an easy fight.
“It’s a great fight.
“But we’re favourite … [and] I don’t think they’re actively pursuing the fight.”
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OPETAIA VERSUS BIVOL OR BENAVIDEZ
Hearn said the most likely path for Opetaia in 2026 will be, first, a shot at whoever holds the WBC cruiserweight title – which Badou Jack will defend against in a rematch against Armenia’s Norair Mikaeljan in December.
That way, should Opetaia win add WBC gold to his collection, a bout with Ramirez would then be for the undisputed cruiserweight title.
Then if the undefeated Aussie southpaw is to unify the division, or if the Ramirez cannot be made, there has also been talk of either Bivol or David Benavidez.
A superfight with Benavidez has been discussed since midway through this year, when the undefeated US star took to social media to declare himself up for the fight.
However, Hearn says he is also keen for fellow light heavyweight champ Bivol to be thrown into the mix stating “we’ve already had a meeting and discussed maybe he moves to cruiserweight to try and become a two-division champion”.
“And Bivol versus Opetaia, two technically supreme fighters, is a phenomenal fight,” Hearn continued. “Same as Benavidez would be incredible.
“But again, I can take these fights to Jai and [until he becomes undisputed champion] he’ll say ‘what do they give me?’.
“I’ll say, well, it provides you a pot load of money and a huge profile.
“But for him, it’s still just another title defence.
“And what I’ve realised about Jai Opetaia, he really is chasing legacy.
“And I think that should be respected.
“Bivol, Benavidez, even [Artur] Beterbiev, they are all huge fights.
“But I know when I present all that to Jai and Mick Francis, they’ll say ‘we’d really rather get these belts’.”
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LIAM PARO VERUS PADDY DONOVAN
Elsewhere, Hearn also confirmed his willingness to bring fighting Irishman Paddy Down Under in January for an IBF welterweight title eliminator with new No Limit signing Paro.
While there has initially been talk of the fight taking place on the undercard of a proposed Tim Tszyu return in December, Hearn says he wants the eliminator held early in the new year, and suggested negotiations may yet go to purse bid.
Of course, if Paro wins, he will then be guaranteed a shot at new IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker, another Matchroom fighter.
Hearn added if the Paro-Donovan bout goes to purse bid and Matchroom proves successful, the fight will be shifted to Ireland.
“Matt Rose called for purse bids late Thursday,” the promoter said. “We couldn’t agree to terms.
“We’d like to stage that fight in January, either in Australia or Ireland, and hopefully we can agree to a deal.
“But if not, we’ll go to purse bids and whoever wins will stage the fight.
“We’ve got a week.
“We’ll see how the conversations go but we’d like it to either be in Brisbane or Ireland in January.”
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GEORGE KAMBOSOS VERSUS LIAM WILSON
Regarding Kambosos, the promoter suggested that while there was nothing currently locked in for the longtime Australian star, his preference is for ‘Ferocious’ to take an all-Australian blockbuster in 2026.
While Kambosos may have lost four of his past six fights – albeit to stars like Devin Haney, Vasyl Lomachenko and Richardson Hitchins – Hearn insists he can still be involved in some lucrative domestic bouts.
One possible option includes two-time title contender Wilson, who has already called out his countryman several times.
“And I’d be shocked if George doesn’t fight again,” Hearn said. “I also think he can be involved in some really great fights in Australia.
“But it really is a personal thing for him now.
“Yes, George has made a lot of money. So it becomes a question of ‘Do you want to fight at that level?’.”
Asked specifically about Wilson, Hearn continued: “Liam Wilson is a really exciting fighter, big puncher, so possibly.
“But again, does George Kambosos want to give Liam that shot?
“Sometimes when you’ve reached the heights George has, you don’t want to then fight the domestic guys.
“So for him now it’s a case of ‘Do I want to do this? Do I want to give these guys the Kambosos opportunity on their records?’.
“Certainly if George wants to fight again, there are loads of fights we can make.
“And those domestic fights here in Australia are the ones I want to see more of.”