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Eddie Hearn predicts a Ryan Burnett will challenge unified world champ Danny Roman

Eddie Hearn believes he may just work with Ryan Burnett again, not as the Belfast fighters promoter, but as the promoter of a world title fight involving his former charge.

The Matchroom boss, who heralds Katie Taylor as his favourite fighter, split amicably with the Olympic Youth gold medal winner  this year and claims the 26 year old made the right choice in signing with Top Rank.

However, it is confident the pairs paths have a good chance of crossing again particularly if Burnett stays up at super bantamweight.

Hearn works with WBA and IBF world champion Danny Roman and believes that Burnett might be a viable fight for the American who dethroned Portlaoise native TJ Doheny down the line.

“I watched him last night and I thought he boxed really well. I think he will do a lot better at super bantam and look we have Danny Roman the unified super bantamweight champion and we also have the mandatory with the WBA so we will probably see him again. I hope we get him in those fights and  I wouldn’t be surprised if our paths cross again,” Hearn told Boxing Social.

Roman was last seen in action against TJ Doheny
Roman was last seen in action against TJ Doheny

Burnett fought on eight Matchroom shows since late 2015 when Eddie Hearn secured his signature, seemingly stealing in ahead of Frank Warren who had looked set to sign the Antrim Road talent.

With the U.K. giant Burnett won British and IBF and WBA world titles, headlining two big bills at the SSE Odyssey Arena in his home city and also featuring prominently in two major pay-per-view events.

Hearn claims working with Burnett during that period represents one of his biggest achievements as a promoter, but claims their relationship had run it course and the Irish talent is better placed with Top Rank.

“Adam came to me and said have you got anything for Ryan Burnett and we didn’t. He said he was talking to other people, I said by all means

“At the end we talked about the possibility of a Danny Roman fight or the winner of Roman and Doheny, but obviously a really good opportunity came up for them and I think it was the right move for them. If we don’t have those big fights for him he has to look elsewhere. He has been brilliant to work with as is Adam.

Burnett return from injury with victory in the Ulster Hall last Friday
Burnett return from injury with victory in the Ulster Hall last Friday

“We had an amazing time with Ryan. We probably put it up there as one of our big achievements getting him a world title and unifying straight away.

“When he chose to go into the World Boxing Super Series that was discussed with us and we were all happy with that. After that the profile dipped to a level well before it was when he unified if that makes sense. We didn’t quite have the momentum anymore and he made the right choice.”

Matchroom now only have three Irish fighters signed to the stable, unified lightweight queen Katie Taylor, the recently deposed super bantamweight titlist TJ Doheny, and super featherweight challenger Jono Carroll – all of who look unlikely to fight at home in the near future.

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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