Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn has bolstered his roster with two major signings. First is Omari Jones, the 2021 AIBA World Championship silver medalist, and 2024 Paris Olympics bronze medalist. Joining him is the former unified super lightweight champion Josh Taylor, as reported by boxing insider Rick Glaser.

Omari ‘The Banger’ Jones of Orlando, Florida, lost to Uzbekistan’s Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev in a closely contested semifinal of the men’s welterweight division in the 2024 Paris Olympics to secure a bronze. Regardless, Glaser reported that Matchroom had signed Jones to a long-term deal, allowing the 21-year-old Florida native to make his debut in professional boxing with the British promoter. 

On the other hand, Taylor, a long-time Top Rank star, is coming off back-to-back losses to Teofimo Lopez and Jack Catterall during their rematch. Taylor was previously signed with Top Rank, but the Catterall rematch was the end of his contract, and he turned into a free agent. The 33-year-old had previously told BBC Sport Scotland, “I’m going to fish the market and [see] what promoters are out there and what fights are for me.”

He was also hopeful about a trilogy fight against Hearn’s fighter Catterall to settle their long-standing rivalry. “I’d like to sort of right that decision and fight him again,” said Taylor. It appears that the trilogy fight might just become a reality. Glaser claimed that Taylor has signed a three-fight deal with Hearn’s Matchroom.

Glaser believes with Eddie Hearn’s new deal with Josh Taylor, he is gunning for an all-British fight between Taylor and his other fighter Conor Benn. Benn is currently serving his suspension after it was reimposed on him following an appeal from the UKAD and BBBofC to the National Anti-Doping Panel. 

Benn had tested positive for a banned substance back in 2022 before his scheduled bout against generational rival Chris Eubank Jr., but following Eubank’s last performance, the duo has rekindled their animosity, which could boil over into a fight. Regardless, Hearn might have a different plan for Taylor entirely.

Eddie Hearn wants to rebuild Josh Taylor

Following Taylor’s defeat to Catterall, Hearn appeared in an interview with iFL TV, where he expressed interest in signing Taylor to Matchroom. “We’ve spoken to him… I liked working with him on the last fight. He was brilliant in the buildup…,” Hearn said. “Obviously, he’s used to earning a lot of money and there is a little bit of a rebuild job to do in my opinion.”

Hearn feels Taylor needs some momentum going for him if he wants to land big fights, so those buildup fights can’t be against the likes of Liam Paro or Catterall. He believes the deal and the money have to work for both parties, noting, “It’s got to work for everybody on the numbers, but if it did, yeah, I’d love to bring Josh to Matchroom.”

While Rick Glaser has confirmed that Josh Taylor and Omari Jones have signed with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, there has been no official announcement from Taylor or Jones themselves. What do you think of this development?