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I had the opportunity to interview Caoimhinn Agyarko at The Four Combat Gym in Liverpool ahead of his IBF title eliminator bout against Brandon Adams in Las Vegas. One thing that stood out to me from that conversation was that in 2014, Caomhin spent the best part of a year training and waiting for a fight date that ultimately never came.

It is a reminder that beneath the bright lights and adulation lies a brutal reality which hinders fighters from progressing. Throughout our conversation Caomhin speaks willingly about wanting to become Ireland’s first black world champion, a goal that is bigger than the struggles and ultimately carried him through the lowest moments of his professional career.

There is a common theme I have observed amongst all of the professional athletes I have interviewed to date. Almost all have spoken openly about achieving a goal, whether that be becoming world champion or creating their own legacy in the sport. It made me realise that when you can see a better future beyond your current reality, it is easier to find that inner strength to overcome the struggles infront of you.

Dream big x

Full interview with Caoimhin Agyarko out now!

In a move that has left many in the boxing fraternity dumbfounded Conor Benn has decide to part ways with Matchroom and join the newly formed Zuffa Boxing. Firstly, it is important to state that Benn’s association with Matchroom goes far beyond the typical fighter-promoter relationship.

In the lead up to the first fight with Chris Eubank Jr in 2022, Conor Benn popped for PED Clomifene which led to a two-year ban from the sport and almost derailed a career that hadn't even properly started. Believing his innocence Matchroom defended Benn vigorously and at times helped out financially.

Their support seemingly paid off when Benn signed a lucrative two fight deal with the Ring magazine to finally step in the ring with Eubank Jr. The first fight was an instant classic with both leaving parts of their souls in the ring and gaining the respect of the British public. The second fight failed to live up the heights of the first with Conor Benn beating a weight-drained Chris Eubank Jr.

His victory over Eubank Jr afforded him a plethora of big money options. Shakur Stevenson. Rolly Romero. Ryan Garcia. Instead, it has been announced that he will fight Regis Prograis on the undercard of Tyson Fury v Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. Benn campaigned in the welterweight division (147lbs) before stepping up to fight Eubank Jr at middleweight (160lbs). Former super lightweight champion (140lbs) Regis Prograis has fought the likes of Devin Haney but has never stepped up to Welterweight, which adds to the intrigue. This fight will take place at a catchweight of 150lbs.

The choice of opponent is questionable considering Zuffa tied Benn to a 1-fight 8-figure deal (believed to be in the region of $15m). However, I believe this is less about the choice of opponent and more about making a statement of intent. Zuffa is backed by Saudi owned SELA and American owned TKO group. They have an inordinate amount of money between them and will do everything in their control to make this newest venture work.

The deal has sparked outrage from many within the UFC (Also fronted by Dana White). Current UFC star and Former champion Sean O’Malley has openly questioned the amount Benn is set to receive. Speaking on his own YouTube channel O'Malley claims: “It is crazy how you put so much work in the UFC and i’m not making $15M a fight. It is also worth noting that Dana White was ordered to pay £281M to former fighters who competed in the MMA promotion between 2010 and 2017, following disputes over pay. He is also at the centre of two anti-trust law suits brought by former fighters Kajan Johnson and Misha Cirkunovs.

This could have potential repercussions for the sport and it will be interesting to see how this unravels in the upcoming months!

In September 2023, Queensberry signed an exclusive agreement with SELA to provide expertise to the Saudi’s. They signed a seperate exclusive agreement with TKO Group which gave TKO access to its online data. While the Saudi’s have a substantial amount of money they lacked the intellectual capital needed to stage big events in the Kingdom. Partnering with Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren was a way of bridging that gap. In October 2023, Tyson Fury faced Francis Ngannou in Riyadh. The bout garnered international attention and marked Saudi Arabia’s push into major boxing events under the Riyadh Season banner.

Since then, the sport has been led by Turki Al Sheikh (chairman of the GEA and advisor to The Royal Court). He has worked with promoters, bought stakes in Broadcasters and has embedded himself in the fabric of the sport. He has been recognised as the most powerful figure in Boxing by media outlet Boxing News two years in a row.

Tensions reached boiling point when TKO and Sela, with Dana White fronting the operation formed Zuffa Boxing. Queensberry allege that both companies breached contracts when they formed a partnership. Queensberry have sent letters before action and are seeking up to $1B in lost income. From agreeing to a £7.2M payout to settle a legal battle with Don King in 1999 to initiating defamation proceedings against Chris Eubank jr, Warren is known as someone who is ruthlessly litigious.

The Ring Magazine (which was acquired by Turki in November 2024) have pushed back against such claims. They allege that: “Queensberry is in financial trouble without a continued business relationship with SELA and TKO”. They further claimed that the heavyweight showdown between Wardley v Dubois set Saturday 9th May is struggling to sell tickets. Warren could take further legal action considering the company posted $15m profit for the tax year up the end of March 2025 and tickets for Wardley v Dubois are not yet on general sale.

This is likely to be settled out of court at a much lower amount. However, given the seriousness of the situation and the money that is at stake don’t be surprised if this goes to the high court!