Eddie Hearn: I'm Interested in Hosting MTK Tournaments On Sky

By Elliot Foster

Eddie Hearn has heaped praise on MTK Global’s Golden Contract tournaments ahead of the launch later this year.

The Matchroom Boxing boss is excited about the three-division competition which features fighters in the featherweight, super-lightweight and light-heavyweight categories.

Hearn has Commonwealth champion Leigh Wood in the featherweight bracket, while the Nottingham man is joined by IBF European champion Jazza Dickens, British champion Ryan Walsh and WBA number seven Hairon Socarras.

WBO European champion at super-bantamweight, Tyrone McCullagh, steps up in weight to take part and there is action, too, for WBO European featherweight champion David Oliver Joyce.

“I’ve seen some of the fighters announced and I love the concept. I like those domestic fights being made. It’s really good,” said Hearn, in an interview with iFL TV recently, when questioned about the idea. “I’m sure there are a lot of broadcasters interested but we’d like to try and do something and I’m interesting in hosting that on Sky.

“A few of our guys like Leigh Wood are in it, so I really like it.”

Meanwhile, the super-lightweight and light-heavyweight tournaments are populated with stellar names.

Former WBC Silver champion Ohara Davies, who beat ex-world champion Miguel Vasquez last time out, and his long-time domestic rival Tyrone McKenna, who holds the WBC International belt, are both in the 140-pound bracket alongside former European champion Anthony Yigit, while the trio are joined by IBF European champion Akeem Ennis-Brown, ex-European and IBO champion Mohamed Mimoune and WBO Inter-Continental champion Zhankosh Turarov.

At light-heavyweight, ex-British champion Hosea Burton is joined by another former Lonsdale belt holder in the shape of Bob Ajisafe, who also held the Commonwealth crown, and former English champion Liam Conroy.

WBO European champion Steven Ward and former WBC International champion Serge Michel are also part of the competition at 175 pounds.

Three quarter-finals nights will take place in October and November, three semi-finals nights in February and March and the all-important finals will be staged in May and June.

Details regarding further additions to the tournaments will be revealed in due course.