Speaking with Fox Sports Australia, Hearn also talked up the possibility of an all-Australian showdown between George \u2018Ferocious\u2019 Kambosos and Liam Wilson, plus the possibility of Liam Paro\u2019s impending world title eliminator headlining a Brisbane pay-per-view in January.<\/p>\n
More immediately, the popular UK promoter has also taken aim at the \u201ccrazy\u201d fight demands of the man Opetaia most wants to throw down against in 2026 \u2013 Mexican superstar Gilberto \u2018Zurdo\u2019 Ramirez.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, Opetaia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/poster-fallback.png\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Apart from branding said request \u201ccrazy\u201d, Hearn also suggested Saudi billionaire Turki Al-Sheikh likely thought the pair were \u201ctaking the p***\u201d.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Hearn also stressed his commitment to ensuring Opetaia finally gets his chance to become an undisputed division king.<\/p>\n
Parker vs Wardley: Full Fight Highlights | 02:54<\/p>\n
IS OPETAIA BEING DUCKED BY RAMIREZ?<\/p>\n
While Opetaia will make yet another defence of his IBF and Ring cruiserweight titles in December \u2013 against mandatory Huseyin Cinkara \u2013 Hearn conceded the fight everyone wants to see involves Ramirez.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, Francis confirmed to Fox Sports Australia that Team Ramirez had requested a \u201cridiculous\u201d US$8 million from Turki Al-Sheikh to make the fight.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve agreed to a deal,\u201d Hearn said. \u201cWe had an offer from Turki and we\u2019ve agreed to a price.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut then Ramirez came back with a number that was just crazy.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Turki is a guy that if you start with a number that\u2019s too high, he thinks you\u2019re taking the piss out of him.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd he\u2019ll say \u2018OK, don\u2019t worry about it\u2019 \u2013 then move on with making his next fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s what I think has happened.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Asked if Ramirez and his promoter Oscar de la Hoya were deliberately pricing themselves out of the fight, Hearn continued: \u201cAsking for the money they did, that\u2019s sometimes a sign you don\u2019t want the fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut after Jai gets this next fight [against Cinkara] done, there isn\u2019t anyone else people want to see him fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously whoever holds the WBC belt is an option, but it\u2019s primarily Gilberto Ramirez.<\/p>\n
\u201cYet it all comes down to the other fighter.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd maybe they don\u2019t want the fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cOscar de la Hoya knows his boxing.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd while the rivalry between himself and I is more friendly now, he doesn\u2019t want to lose to us.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe knows how good Jai is.<\/p>\n
\u201cOf course, Ramirez is good too and it won\u2019t be an easy fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a great fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we\u2019re favourite \u2026 [and] I don\u2019t think they\u2019re actively pursuing the fight.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is Bulls***” | 02:38<\/p>\n
OPETAIA VERSUS BIVOL OR BENAVIDEZ<\/p>\n
Hearn said the most likely path for Opetaia in 2026 will be, first, a shot at whoever holds the WBC cruiserweight title \u2013 which Badou Jack will defend against in a rematch against Armenia\u2019s Norair Mikaeljan in December.<\/p>\n
That way, should Opetaia win add WBC gold to his collection, a bout with Ramirez would then be for the undisputed cruiserweight title.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
However, Hearn says he is also keen for fellow light heavyweight champ Bivol to be thrown into the mix stating \u201cwe\u2019ve already had a meeting and discussed maybe he moves to cruiserweight to try and become a two-division champion\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd Bivol versus Opetaia, two technically supreme fighters, is a phenomenal fight,\u201d Hearn continued. \u201cSame as Benavidez would be incredible.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut again, I can take these fights to Jai and [until he becomes undisputed champion] he\u2019ll say \u2018what do they give me?\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll say, well, it provides you a pot load of money and a huge profile.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut for him, it\u2019s still just another title defence.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd what I\u2019ve realised about Jai Opetaia, he really is chasing legacy.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I think that should be respected.<\/p>\n
\u201cBivol, Benavidez, even [Artur] Beterbiev, they are all huge fights.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut I know when I present all that to Jai and Mick Francis, they\u2019ll say \u2018we\u2019d really rather get these belts\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
I thought it was gonna be easier | 02:54<\/p>\n
LIAM PARO VERUS PADDY DONOVAN<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Of course, if Paro wins, he will then be guaranteed a shot at new IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker, another Matchroom fighter.<\/p>\n
Hearn added if the Paro-Donovan bout goes to purse bid and Matchroom proves successful, the fight will be shifted to Ireland. <\/p>\n
\u201cMatt Rose called for purse bids late Thursday,\u201d the promoter said. \u201cWe couldn\u2019t agree to terms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019d like to stage that fight in January, either in Australia or Ireland, and hopefully we can agree to a deal.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut if not, we\u2019ll go to purse bids and whoever wins will stage the fight.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll see how the conversations go but we\u2019d like it to either be in Brisbane or Ireland in January.\u201d<\/p>\n
Salkilld’s stunning head kick KO | 00:58<\/p>\n
GEORGE KAMBOSOS VERSUS LIAM WILSON<\/p>\n
Regarding Kambosos, the promoter suggested that while there was nothing currently locked in for the longtime Australian star, his preference is for \u2018Ferocious\u2019 to take an all-Australian blockbuster in 2026.<\/p>\n
While Kambosos may have lost four of his past six fights \u2013 albeit to stars like Devin Haney, Vasyl Lomachenko and Richardson Hitchins \u2013 Hearn insists he can still be involved in some lucrative domestic bouts.<\/p>\n
One possible option includes two-time title contender Wilson, who has already called out his countryman several times. <\/p>\n
\u201cAnd I\u2019d be shocked if George doesn\u2019t fight again,\u201d Hearn said. \u201cI also think he can be involved in some really great fights in Australia.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut it really is a personal thing for him now.<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, George has made a lot of money. So it becomes a question of \u2018Do you want to fight at that level?\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked specifically about Wilson, Hearn continued: \u201cLiam Wilson is a really exciting fighter, big puncher, so possibly.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut again, does George Kambosos want to give Liam that shot?<\/p>\n
\u201cSometimes when you\u2019ve reached the heights George has, you don\u2019t want to then fight the domestic guys.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo for him now it\u2019s a case of \u2018Do I want to do this? Do I want to give these guys the Kambosos opportunity on their records?\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly if George wants to fight again, there are loads of fights we can make.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd those domestic fights here in Australia are the ones I want to see more of.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Eddie Hearn has warned Jai Opetaia\u2019s biggest rival against \u201ctaking the p***\u201d as the popular UK promoter readies…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":227255,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[2560,101,56,54,55],"class_list":{"0":"post-227254","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boxing","8":"tag-boxing","9":"tag-sports","10":"tag-uk","11":"tag-united-kingdom","12":"tag-unitedkingdom"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227254","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=227254"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/227254\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/227255"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=227254"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=227254"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=227254"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}