In an unexpected move, UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall has joined forces with boxing promoter Eddie Hearn. The Englishman has become Hearn’s first signing for his new advisory business, called Matchroom Talent Agency.
According to Matchroom, the new agency will help Aspinall with “key services ranging from commercial to editorial, digital, television and legal“. The signing was completed yesterday in Monaco. Aspinall has not fought since UFC 321, when he suffered serious eye injuries caused by an action by Ciryl Gane. Since then, the Salford native has been unable to defend his world championship belt.
This new relationship between Hearn and Aspinall clearly responds to the promoter’s desire for revenge against his new rival in boxing, Dana White. The UFC boss snatched Conor Benn, a fighter who from the beginning of his career had fought under the umbrella of Matchroom Boxing and left to join the new Zuffa Boxing for a $15 million contract.
Hearn’s role will be “commercial and advisory”, meaning that Matchroom now represents the UFC heavyweight champion on all fronts. The British fighter’s sporting career has come under scrutiny due to his eye problems. He suffers from Brown’s syndrome, for which he underwent surgery last month in Manchester and if all goes well it will be a matter of time before he can make a comeback.
While it is unclear how Dana White will react to this move, we do know that Aspinall was “very disappointed” with the American executive’s claims, who went so far as to say that the champion suffered “no damage to the eye”. In the midst of a business war between Hearn and White, Aspinall will try to take advantage and for the moment the consequence is that the British promoter and now representative will be the one to sit down to negotiate with UFC the future of his fighter.
“I am really excited to welcome Eddie and the Matchroom Sport group in a commercial and advisory role, and to become the first athlete to join the new Matchroom Talent Agency. Eddie has built one of the biggest brands in sport and understands how to take athletes to the next level, both on and off the field,” said Aspinall. Hearn has announced a press conference tomorrow and it is rumoured that he will present the second member of his new agency, which would also be an important name.
White surprised the combat sports world last month when he signed Conor Benn to his new boxing promotion, leaving Hearn “heartbroken” and now he has hit back. “It’s like hitting babies,” Dana said of his competition with the classic promoters. The exchange in the offices has already begun.
Read the full article here
