Bob Arum’s Top Rank and Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom have bolstered their rosters with the British promoter adding a truly major name in Oleksandr Usyk.
- Usyk & Carrol – Eddie Hearn has picked up his biggest signing in some time by adding undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. It is a co-promotional deal for three fights alongside Tom Loeffler and K2, but the implications here are clear. The rumored major defense for Usyk against Matchroom star Tony Bellew is quite obviously a go at this point. As highly anticipated as that fight will be, the Ukrainian will be a heavy favorite. Should he win as expected, he will very likely move to heavyweight. There Hearn has the likes of Derek Chisora, Jarrell Miller, Dillian Whyte, and of course heavyweight cash cow and three belt unified titleholder Anthony Joshua waiting in the wings. DAZN is going to get some great fights out of this one. Unbeaten but largely untested Irish junior lightweight Jono Carrol also signed on with Hearn and company today. The Irishman is set for a title eliminator next if all goes according to plan, meeting recent Matchroom signee Tevin Farmer for his title opportunity should he win the eliminator.
- Guzman & more – Top Rank also picked up four fighters today to help fill the giant bucket of dates that they owe ESPN thanks to their shiny new contract. The only super notable name among them is recent former super bantamweight titleholder Jonathan Guzman. The Dominican has been inactive since losing his title on the road on Japan’s annual New Years Eve card by upset to Yukinori Oguni on the last day of 2016. I thought his talent would carry him to a much longer reign, but apparently not. He’ll definitely have the opportunity to get active and back in the mix with all these Top Rank on ESPN shows. Arum and company also picked up junior welterweight Michael Perez as well as prospects Tyler Howard at middleweight and lightweight Eric Puente. Perez has been competing on Golden Boy cards and has a few decent wins. He’ll work as a B-side opponent in a pinch. Howard is a 24 year old, 15 fight prospect from Tennessee while Mexican-American prospect Puente is a 19 year old top US amateur who will be turning pro under Top Rank banners.
