Anthony Joshua vs Tom Aspinall Door Opens With Eddie Hearn Move
Tom Aspinall’s new partnership with Eddie Hearn could eventually open the door to a blockbuster boxing clash with Anthony Joshua once the UFC heavyweight champion’s contract expires.
The Salford-born fighter has become the first client of Hearn’s newly launched Matchroom Talent Agency, a move that places one of Britain’s biggest combat sports stars firmly within boxing’s commercial orbit.
Unlike a fight-promotion deal, the agreement focuses on commercial and advisory services — but it also links Aspinall directly to the promoter behind former heavyweight champion Joshua.
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Tom Aspinall and Eddie Hearn
In interviews since Aspinall fought Ciryl Gane in October and suffered a serious eye injury, Hearn has accused UFC president Dana White of mocking the situation and failing to show enough sympathy toward the British heavyweight.
That dispute, coupled with the obvious retaliation after White drafted Conor Benn to Zuffa Boxing, suggests the feud between the promoters is far from over.
White was even quoted this week, saying on Piers Morgan’s show he would consider a boxing match with his British rival.
What the Deal Means
As for Aspinall, signing with Hearn has put his feelings on the situation out in the open and left his long-term future in the UFC open to interpretation.
Depending on the exact terms of his agreement, Aspinall is believed to have two or three fights remaining on his UFC contract.
At 32, that would still give the heavyweight plenty of time to complete his obligations before pursuing major events in professional boxing.
Since Floyd Mayweather faced Conor McGregor in 2017, crossover bouts between boxing and other combat sports have become increasingly common.
Turki Alalshikh raised the stakes further when Francis Ngannou challenged Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia, demonstrating that elite fighters from outside boxing can now enter the sport at the highest level.
Oleksandr Usyk’s planned bout with kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven in May will continue that trend.
Aspinall vs Joshua
If Aspinall eventually makes the move, he could find himself sharing the ring with Matchroom’s leading heavyweight, Anthony Joshua, in what would likely become a major UK event later in the decade.
Beyond Joshua, other options would exist depending on the level of ambition both Hearn and Aspinall pursue once the UFC chapter of his career comes to an end.
Joshua’s recent knockout of Jake Paul demonstrated that the former heavyweight champion is willing to consider crossover bouts if the terms are right.
For now, Aspinall vs Joshua remains the most intriguing possibility following Hearn’s bold move.
