Zuffa Boxing Signs Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins After Matchroom Exit

Walking down the Las Vegas Strip, you can usually feel the tension in the air long before a major fight night at T-Mobile Arena or the MGM Grand. But right now, the real electricity isn’t coming from a scheduled bout; it’s emanating from a massive power shift in the boxing promotional landscape. When Dana White signs a fighter, the ripples are felt across the globe, but here in the combat sports capital of the world, it feels more like a tidal wave. The recent news that Zuffa Boxing has poached two of Eddie Hearn’s former stars isn’t just a business transaction—it’s a signal that the traditional promotional model is facing a reckoning right here in our own backyard.

The Zuffa Expansion: Berlanga and Hitchins Join the Roster

The announcement on Wednesday confirmed what many insiders in the Vegas boxing circles had been whispering about. Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins have officially joined Zuffa Boxing. For those following the numbers, this is a significant acquisition of talent. Berlanga, sporting a 23-2 record, is a two-time NABO super middleweight champion who has already proven he can operate on the biggest stages, most notably in his September 2024 challenge against Canelo Alvarez. While he came up short in that contest, his marketability and power make him a prime target for White’s aggressive expansion strategy.

Then there is Richardson Hitchins, who enters the Zuffa fold with a perfect 20-0 record. Hitchins isn’t just a prospect; he’s the reigning IBF light welterweight champion. After securing the belt in December 2024, he successfully defended it against George Kambosos Jr. Last June. Seeing a reigning world champion move from Matchroom Boxing to Zuffa highlights the volatility of current fighter loyalty and the lure of the Zuffa machine.

The Catalyst: The Conor Benn Fallout

To understand why these two fighters are making the jump, you have to look back to February. The boxing world was blindsided when Dana White signed Conor Benn, a move that effectively severed a highly successful relationship between Benn and Eddie Hearn. This wasn’t a clean break. The fallout was public and pointed, with Benn later describing the promotional rift as “short-sighted” on Hearn’s part. The tension didn’t stop at the athletes; it extended to the management level.

Both Berlanga and Hitchins are managed by Keith Connolly, who also represents Conor Benn. This common thread explains why these moves didn’t approach entirely out of the blue. Eddie Hearn had previously predicted that these specific fighters would eventually gravitate toward Zuffa once they became free agents. The move seems less like a random poaching and more like a strategic migration of a specific management group.

Promotional Warfare and the “Blood-Sucker” Narrative

The rhetoric coming out of this transition has been nothing short of scorched earth. In a March appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show, Hearn made it clear that while he respects the athletes, his bridge with Keith Connolly has been burned. Hearn’s comments regarding the management surrounding Hitchins were particularly biting. After Hitchins declared himself a free agent following the Kambosos Jr. Victory, Hearn warned that “snakes” and “bloodsuckers” often surround talented kids, taking percentages that rival the promoter’s investment without providing the same level of bankrolling or risk.

This conflict reflects a deeper systemic shift in how boxing is managed. For decades, the promoter held all the keys. Now, with the entry of Zuffa and the influence of high-powered managers, the leverage is shifting. In Las Vegas, where the Nevada State Athletic Commission oversees the legality and safety of these bouts, the administrative side of the sport is watching closely. When fighters move between promotions while holding titles—like Hitchins and his IBF belt—it creates a complex web of sanctions and mandatory defenses that can either accelerate or stall a fighter’s career.

The arrival of these fighters in the Zuffa ecosystem suggests that Dana White is not just looking for names, but for established champions and high-profile contenders who can challenge the status quo of the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and other governing bodies. It is a play for total dominance, utilizing a model that prioritizes aggressive marketing and high-visibility events over the slower, more traditional build-up favored by Matchroom.

Navigating the New Era of Combat Sports in Las Vegas

Given my background as a lead pundit and geo-journalist, I’ve seen how these macro-level promotional wars trickle down to the local level. When a major entity like Zuffa expands, it changes the demand for local support services. If you are an aspiring fighter, a manager, or a sports professional operating in the Las Vegas area, this volatility means you cannot rely on a single promotional entity for your career stability. The “free agent” era of boxing is here, and it requires a different set of professional safeguards.

If this trend of promotional instability impacts your career or business in the Vegas valley, here are the three types of local professionals Make sure to be consulting to protect your interests:

Combat Sports Contract Attorneys

With fighters moving between Zuffa and Matchroom, the fine print in “free agency” clauses is everything. You need a legal expert who specifically understands the nuances of boxing promotional contracts and the regulations set by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Look for attorneys who have a proven track record of negotiating exit clauses and managing disputes between managers and promoters.

Elite Performance & Recovery Specialists

Zuffa-style promotions often demand a faster turnaround and a higher intensity of public appearances and fighting schedules. Local athletes need strength and conditioning coaches who specialize in “peak-performance maintenance” rather than just one-off camp prep. Seek out specialists who utilize data-driven recovery metrics to ensure that a high-frequency fight schedule doesn’t lead to premature burnout.

Sports Brand & Crisis Managers

As we’ve seen with the “snakes” and “bloodsuckers” comments, promotional splits often turn ugly in the press. A local brand manager can help fighters navigate the fallout of a public rift with a former promoter. Look for professionals who have experience in high-stakes PR and can help a fighter maintain a positive public image while transitioning between competing promotional giants.

Ready to find trusted professionals? Browse our complete directory of top-rated boxing,conorbenn,danawhite,eddiehearn,matchroomboxing,zuffaboxing experts in the Las Vegas area today.