Ryan Burnett Joins Top Rank

[Ruthless-RKO]

Top Rank is proud to announce the signing of former unified bantamweight world champion Ryan Burnett to a multi-fight promotional pact in what is the latest collaboration between Top Rank and Burnett’s management group, MTK Global.

Burnett (19-1, 9 KOs) will make his ring return May 17 against Jelbirt Gomera in a 12-rounder for the vacant WBC International super bantamweight title in his hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Burnett vs. Gomera will headline a card that will stream live and exclusively in the United States on ESPN+.

Burnett plans on campaigning as a super bantamweight moving forward and has his sights set on becoming a two-division world champion before the end of the year.

“It is a dream come true to sign with Top Rank,” Burnett said. “I’ve spent years learning and perfecting my craft, becoming world champion and then unified world champion. On May 17, I begin my quest to become world champion again. Teaming up with the biggest players in the game in Top Rank, ESPN and MTK Global will only strengthen my drive and determination to achieve this.

“With these guys behind me, there’s only one way ahead for me, and that’s straight to the top.”

“We’re proud and excited to be part of another huge deal involving Top Rank and ESPN, and this is something Ryan deserves,” said Jamie Conlan, Professional Development Manager, MTK Global. “As the boxing world already knows, Ryan has a special night upcoming when he headlines an #MTKFightNight in his home city of Belfast, live on ESPN+ on May 17. It’s great the partnership won’t stop there. As someone who’s already unified a division, we believe we’re talking about an elite fighter, and elite fighters should fight on elite platforms. This agreement ensures that happens, and once again, MTK Global are delighted to play our role.”

Said Adam Booth, Burnett’s trainer/manager: “I am relieved and excited that on May 17 Ryan will start his journey back to being world champion. It was essential for us to look at the options and which relationships would maximize the opportunity for him to achieve this. That’s why Ryan is now working with Top Rank, MTK Global and ESPN.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

MTK's close ties to ESPN..

Tete dropping out of the WBSS makes more sense now.. He wanted to avoid Inoue in the final..

We'll probably see Tete vs. Burnett now for the WBO belt.

Tete did say he'd give Burnett a title shot.

EDIT:

Burnett will now be campaigning at 122 (Super Bants).. Who knows..

[Ruthless-RKO]

Wonder why he left Matchroom though.


Won a world title, selling out arena's ?

[3132DW]

Wonder why he left Matchroom though.


Won a world title, selling out arena's ?

MTK are getting very close to Top Rank.

They must have 1000 fighters on their management now all over the World.

[Coco]

Jamie Conlan is professional devt manager?

[3132DW]

Jamie Conlan is professional debt manager?

Yeah after Ancajas battered him - he chucked it and now manages fighters for MTK.

[Coco]

Boxing wise MTK are very much becoming one of the big boys

[Ruthless-RKO]

MTK are getting very close to Top Rank.

They must have 1000 fighters on their management now all over the World.

I'm aware of that.

I guess, with MTK's deal with Top Rank/ESPN+, it would just be easier if he was promoted by TR.

Booth is still his manager/trainer.

[3132DW]

Boxing wise MTK are very much becoming one of the big boys

I still can’t fathom how feasibly it could make money with 1000+ fighters.

[Ruthless-RKO]

I still can’t fathom how feasibly it could make money with 1000+ fighters.

Aren’t they a management company?

Don’t they get % of purses?

[liamlion]

Really Interesting move this.

I can see this going down like a lead balloon with Sky and Adam Smith.

Whilst I'm sure, Burnett was not a mega star for Sky it is interesting that Eddie's competitors in the states are now making moves into the British market.

Eddie is stretched and Sky are at risk of losing a significant share of the market that they have dominated for years.

[Noxy]

Interesting, I was only thinking about him the other day. Wondering what was happening.

[ewenhay]

Really Interesting move this.

I can see this going down like a lead balloon with Sky and Adam Smith.

Whilst I'm sure, Burnett was not a mega star for Sky it is interesting that Eddie's competitors in the states are now making moves into the British market.

Eddie is stretched and Sky are at risk of losing a significant share of the market that they have dominated for years.

The sky /Matchroom ppv model is already stretched pretty thin. Hardly any fighters left who can carry a ppv. Joshua and Whyte and that's about it?

Classic case of taking your core market for granted, getting greedy and spreading yourself too thin on too many fronts. Many empires have crumbled in this way historically.

[brian13]

Not really surprised to be honest. Michael Conlon with Top Rank makes it more attractive for Top Rank to sign Burnett. It means that they have a few local fighters in their stable for when the Belfast cards come around.

[Ruthless-RKO]

It’s not me, it’s you – Eddie Hearn claims he left Ryan Burnett

Eddie Hearn has claimed that he and Matchroom Boxing were unwilling to extend Ryan Burnett‘s association with the outfit, thus confirming his exit.

It was announced earlier this week following a period of speculation that Burnett had signed with U.S. giant Top Rank as he looks to rebuild following his freak injury defeat to Nonito Donaire in the quarter-finals of the World Boxing Super Series.

However, Hearn has revealed that he had the opportunity to continue working with Burnett but turned this down.

The English promoter gave his side in an interview with IFL TV today.

Hearn said that Burnett “took the fight in the World Boxing Super Series – he got injured in that.”

“Adam [Booth, Burnett’s coach and manager] came to me and said ‘do you have an offer for Ryan?’ and we didn’t make him an offer,” he revealed before stating that there are no hard feelings between the parties.

“[Booth] kept me up to speed with everything, Ryan texted me the other day, we wished him all the best, I think it’s a good opportunity for him.”

Specifics are unclear, but it would seem that Hearn was unwilling to match Top Rank’s offer, whatever that may have been rather than him outright refusing to continue working with Burnett and Top Rank subsequently swooping in.

26-year-old Burnett recently came under the MTK Global banner after Booth’s stable became a part of the outfit – who also have a new association with Top Rank.

[dbf]

Seems to me like Burnett wasn't doing big numbers on Sky prior to WBSS as Eddie made no real move to re-sign him. Going with Top Rank seems like a good idea, they can tie him in with Conlan events I guess he's getting a straight shot at Vargas's 122 WBC title - based on all the other champs are busy/just fought and Burnett intimating he's going straight into a title fight.

[stujones]

Honest of Eddie to just say - "no, we don't want you" in his interview. A little surprised as there is a good mix of fighters in or around Burnett's weight class that work with Matchroom.

Butler, Edwards, Yafai, McDonnell etc. Possibly a little bit hasty, particularly given the non conclusive feeling of his WBSS defeat. Always thought Burnett vs Edwards at some kind of catch weight was a potential big fight.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Seems to me like Burnett wasn't doing big numbers on Sky prior to WBSS as Eddie made no real move to re-sign him. Going with Top Rank seems like a good idea, they can tie him in with Conlan events I guess he's getting a straight shot at Vargas's 122 WBC title - based on all the other champs are busy/just fought and Burnett intimating he's going straight into a title fight.

The fight with Zhanat Zhakiyanov averaged 65,000 on Sky Sports Action. from 7.30pm to end.

Not sure the numbers on Main Event, which would have aired around 10pm, the main event. But it would have been below 129,000 viewers.

The fight with Lee Haskins did less than 55,000 viewers on Sky Sports. Unfortunately that same night, we had GERMANY V SAN MARINO and SCOTLAND V ENGLAND a bit earlier, for WC qualifiers. So people were probably out getting pissed.

From November up until now.. "WBSS Season 2 Quarter-Finals - Glasgow - Burnett vs Donaire & Taylor vs Martin"



has only had 148,754 views. Most probably tuned in for Taylor anyway..

So, no. Burnett isn't really a draw.