The question remains as to how Zuffa Boxing intends to keep their top names happy if they are one, refusing to do business with other Promoters, and two, wishing to ignore the Boxing Organisations?
Of course hearing Jai Opetaia is planning to sure the IBF and a number of other names in the Boxing world after signing with Zuffa and then being forced to give up his World Title is an interesting move considering some of the statements made by those that the Australian has signed with... It is a power play? Potentially, but it has raised eyebrows considering all we have heard from Zuffa as to why Opetaia is so concerned about wanting that World Title back.
We will see that play out over the coming weeks and months, but Zuffa Boxing will continue to put their cards out and this is one that will be featured at Madison Square Garden, albeit in the Theatre rather than in the main room.
The main event is one that feels very important to the 'A side', but there are some potentially decent scraps on the undercard as well on what should be a decent night of action.
Edgar Berlanga vs Steven Butler
A little over twelve months have passed since Edgar Berlanga was being Stopped by Hamzah Sheeraz in Queens, but he is back in the Five Boroughs on Sunday night and with a new promotional team.
While most fighters would have been humbled by the manner in which Berlanga was beaten, the excuses were lined up and you do have to wonder if he has learned anything.
Of course Zuffa Boxing are going to want to see Edgar Berlanga win and win well and they have offered up an opponent that may allow him to showcase his talent.
Steven Butler has won thirty-eight fights and thirty-two of them have been in Stoppages, but the Canadian has lost five times and all before the final bell. He is unbeaten in four since his last defeat to Patrice Volny, but it has felt like Steven Butler has found this kind of ceiling too high to reach and that should suit Edgar Berlanga.
The Puerto Rican has lost two of his last four fights, but those have been defeats to Canelo Alvarez and Hamzah Sheeraz and both would be considered much stronger opponents than the one he is facing on Sunday.
Add in the fact that the other two fights in that run have both been won by Edgar Berlanga in Stoppages and it does feel like Zuffa have lined up a bout where one of the new signings can impress.
He should also be the naturally bigger man and Edgar Berlanga can find a way to secure the Stoppage as he moves through the gears after a couple of feel out Rounds.
Another fighter who has signed with Zuffa Boxing and is returning after a long layoff is Richardson Hitchins and the former Light Welterweight World Champion is making his debut in the Welterweight Division.
He has spoken about making up for lost time and Hitchins also feels he should have made the move to Welterweight sooner, and now the challenge is making a big statement and then chasing the big names.
The Knock Out record is not that eye-catching, but Richardson Hitchins will feel his power will be more telling in this weight Division.
Ricardo Adan Salas Rodriguez will know he has a big opportunity to push his own career forward, but the unbeaten home fighter should have too much for him and the feeling is that Richardson Hitchins will be in a position to turn the screw and eventually overwhelm this opponent in a chief support spot on this card.
Jalil Hackett is expected to do enough to earn a narrow Decision against veteran Sergiy Derevyanchenko, although the layers are giving the latter plenty of respect in what should be a competitive bout.
There is also a crossroads fight in the Heavyweight Division when Otto Wallin takes on Vladyslav Sirenko and the expectation is that the former will do enough to edge to the victory.
Otto Wallin has a win over Murat Gassiev on his resume, which looks all the stronger now that Gassiev has become a World Champion in the Division. That could be a rematch that would have been chased if Wallin has not signed with Zuffa Boxing, but the Swedish fighter should still be very motivated to remind everyone of what he can do after suffering defeats to Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora since December 2023.
The Sirenko defeat to Soloman Dacres is a really disappointing one and Otto Wallin may have enough about himself to win this one on the cards.
There is another Heavyweight Fight during the preliminary part of the broadcast that could offer up a selection- both Kashaun Davis and Mihai Nistor are unbeaten with eleven and eight wins respectively and all have been inside the distance.
Both are making a step up compared with previous opponents beaten and this Eight Rounder could see one of the fighters move through the gears to not only remain unbeaten, but to maintain the run of a perfect Knock Out record too.
However, the lack of recent activity goes against Nistor as he returns for the first time in over two years and that may just give Kashaun Davis the edge in what could develop into a firefight.
MY PICKS: Edgar Berlanga to Win by KO/TKO/DQ @ 1.83 William Hill (2 Units)
Richardson Hitchins to Win by KO/TKO/DQ @ 4.00 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Otto Wallin to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.10 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Kashaun Davis to Win by KO/TKO/DQ @ 2.40 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Boxing 2026: 20-34, - 9.46 Units (84 Units Staked, - 11.26% Yield)
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