Headline News

Has Ryan Burnett split from Matchroom?


It seems as though Belfast bantamweight Ryan Burnett [19(9)-1(1)] has parted company with British promotional giant Matchrom.

Speculation has been mounting that the former unified WBA and IBF titlist had split with Eddie Hearn’s outfit ever since his return to the ring has been confirmed.

Burnett comes back from a horror injury suffered versus Nonito Donaire with a headline slot at the Ulster Hall on Friday May 17th.

The Antrim Road 26-year-old tops the #MTKFightNight bill and his status as a Matchroom fighter was unclear.

At the time of the announcement, Burnett remained listed on the Matchroom website but he has recently been removed, suggesting he is no longer a part of the organisation.

Matchroom Boxing – Boxers

Burnett is still managed by his coach Adam Booth but this stable came under the Mack The Knife Global banner last month.

His fight next month will be shown on YouTube as well as on the ESPN+ app in America as part of MTK’s link up with U.S. promotional giant and Matchroom rival Top Rank.

Bob Arum’s outfit also have an association with Matchroom’s main UK competitor, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, and this could be where Burnett’s long-term future lies.

The Youth Olympic gold medallist faces Filipino southpaw Jelbirt Gomera [14(7)-5(2)] next month for the WBC International super bantamweight title – his first championship fight at the weight.

Having started his career with Ricky Hatton, Burnett would link up with Booth and seemed to be heading towards an association with Warren, appearing on two shows. However, just as it looked like he would headline a Queensberry card in a British title fight versus Jason Booth, a deal with Matchroom was done and Burnett would feature on eight of Hearn’s shows – including two headline appearances at the SSE Odyssey Arena where he won and unified bantamweight titles.

The Ulsterman then entered the World Boxing Super Series where he was cruelly eliminated in the quarter-finals in Glasgow when he was pulled out of his clash with Donaire having suffered a freak oblique injury.

Donaire subsequently reached the final with a knockout win over late replacement Stephon Young in New Orleans last night.

dpg

logo may

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

x