
Meng Fanlong Breaks From Roc Nation, Now a Free Agent
Former Olympian and #1 ranked IBF light heavyweight contender Meng Fanlong (16-0, 10 KOs) is now a promotional free agent after reaching a separation agreement with Roc Nation.

Former Olympian and #1 ranked IBF light heavyweight contender Meng Fanlong (16-0, 10 KOs) is now a promotional free agent after reaching a separation agreement with Roc Nation.

Promoters Lou DiBella and Dino Duva conceded Monday that they’ve stopped negotiating to make a Regis Prograis-Maurice Hooker fight at a higher weight. The former 140-pound champions signed contracts for a 12-round fight at a contracted catch weight of 143 pounds April 17 at MGM National Harbor in Oxon Hill, Maryland. That card was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Artur Beterbiev no longer has to worry about making a personal compromise for the sake of going through with his next fight. The unbeaten World light heavyweight champion will now get to call the shots for his next title defense, which is due to come in early spring versus mandatory challenger Fanlong Meng. Promotional rights for the bout have landed in the hands of Top Rank Inc., Beterbiev’s promoter after Rejoy Group and Longjoy Sports defaulted on the original terms of the purse bid.

Fanlong Meng’s first career title fight could come in front a partisan crowd. With a bid of $1.9 million, Roc Nation Sports—on behalf of Rejoy Group /Longjoy Sports in China—secured promotional rights to Meng’s mandatory challenge of unbeaten World light heavyweight champion Artur Beterbiev through a purse bid hearing held Monday at International Boxing Federation (IBF) headquarters in Springfield, New Jersey. News

On Saturday, November 30th, Roc Nation Sports’ Chinese heavyweight star Zhang “Big Bang” Zhilei (21-0, 16 KOs) dominated tough veteran contender Andriy Rudenko (32-5, 20 KOs) of Ukraine in a 10 round bout at the Casino de Monte-Carlo in Monaco. Zhilei has now skyrocketed to the top of the heavyweight division, beating Rudenko by way of unanimous decision. The score was 99-91, 98-92, 97-93.

Multiple outlets are reporting that retired boxer Daniel Franco has filed a lawsuit against rapper/businessman Jay-Z personally, and promotional/management company Roc Nation Sports. Franco is going after them for the severe brain injuries that he suffered - which he claims is due to Roc Nation booking him in three fights in 79 days.

Maurice Hooker has signed an extension to his co-promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing USA and Roc Nation. Hooker defended his WBO World Super-Lightweight title with a commanding points win over Mikkel LesPierre at Turning Stone Resort Casino live on DAZN earlier in the month, and the Dallas native now hopes to fight at home for the first time as a World champion following his win over the Brooklynite.

Speculation regarding Andre Ward’s comeback apparently is just that. BoxingScene.com has learned through court documents it has obtained that Ward and former promoter Roc Nation Sports are plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Lloyds Of London. They seek $6.3 million because they allege the prominent insurance company has failed to honor the terms of his policy after he suffered a career-ending injury to his right knee.

Undefeated welterweight Dusty Hernandez-Harrison is now a promotional free agent after being granted his release from promoter Roc Nation Sports. The former USBA, WBC Continental Americas and WBC Youth Champion is eager to get back in the ring after a 22-month hiatus from the sport.

A lawsuit filed by Caribe Promotions against Roc Nation Sports was dismissed Friday in federal court in New York. Caribe, which co-promotes Guillermo Rigondeaux, filed the lawsuit in Manhattan Supreme Court because it claimed Roc Nation froze the Miami-based company out of the promotion of Rigondeaux’s high-profile fight Saturday night against Vasyl Lomachenko. Among other things, Caribe claimed Roc Nation made a deal with Top Rank Inc., Lomachenko’s promoter, without its consent.