Speaking about what might happen next, Hearn predicted: “I think there’s going to be a big split now in boxing. And I think if you go with Zuffa, you’re out of the governing bodies. I think that’s really how it has to be… All those fighters want to win those belts. No fighter is interested in winning the Zuffa belt. I’m sure in time, maybe in five years, maybe that belt might mean something. I don’t think so. The reality is I think now is the time where we’ve got to say, ‘If you sign with Zuffa, you can’t win a world championship.’ I mean, you’ve seen Jai Opetaia lose his world title, the thing that he was most proud of, the thing that he wanted to unify and become undisputed, and now you’re seeing Richardson Hitchins sign and now he’s given up his title as well. So that’s fine. If you sign with Zuffa, you can’t have that legacy. You can’t have it both ways. And I think that’s how it should be. Because I think Zuffa should have the balls to say ‘Yeah.’ We know what they’re trying to do. Just come out and say it. ‘We’re not going to work with you guys.’ They’ve already said that, then they moaned and cried when the IBF didn’t sanction the fight with Jai Opetaia [against Brandon Glanton]. So, let’s just get it right, you’ve got to fight for two ways. You’ve got to fight for legacy, or you fight for this new system. For me, the legacy will always be the answer.”
