Eddie Hearn fires back at Robert Garcia over the contractual situation of pound for pound star Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez
Eddie Hearn has responded to the manager and trainer of Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez Robert Garcia, amid uncertainty regarding the pound for pound star’s future with Matchroom Boxing.
Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (23-0, 16ko’s) is the unified super flyweight champion of the world and Ring Magazine pound for pound number 3 ranked fighter.
Rodriguez had his last fight of his promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing in November, when he knocked out Fernando Daniel Martinez (18-1, 9ko’s) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In the aftermath, Hearn has expressed his desire to re-sign Rodriguez.
Speaking to ESNEWS, Robert Garcia stated: “When the contract ended, Eddie had 30 days, and I didn’t hear from Eddie, it took another two weeks after the 30 days to hear from Eddie”.
Robert Garcia and Bam were officially made an offer by Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, the sports newest major promotion.
In response to Garcia in this ongoing dispute, Eddie Hearn spoke upon the topic in a recent interview on the Ariel Helwani Show.
Hearn stated: “Robert needs to obviously understand the legal position of a first last, which I think he’s done”.
A first last allows Eddie Hearn and Matchroom to contractually have the opportunity to match whatever offers Garcia and Bam receive externally.
Hearn continued on the topic: “His best interest of course is looking after Bam Rodriguez, and himself of course and his other fighters”.
“The way that it’s played out is how I’ve explained it, he had an offer from Zuffa, and we matched it, the process was adhered to under the contractual terms”.
“Now they’ve received that offer, we move forward”.
“He had three fighters on the (Zuffa) card last week”
“I think he’s got another on the next one”.
“Ultimately, we’ve built and developed Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, we’ve done an incredible job, we love Jesse”.
“We also understand some people have different loyalty levels and plans to benefit themselves”.
“We expect to move forward, we have big plans for him”.
With Matchroom’s current contractual position in this dispute, it is likely that Bam Rodriguez will continue to be promoted by Eddie Hearn, in a relationship that is vital in Hearn and Matchroom’s bid to solidify their status as a major player in US boxing.
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