In his view, that decision will affect how titles are treated going forward. If a sanctioning body cannot enforce its procedures, he expects the impact to stretch beyond one fight. He pointed to the upcoming bout as the moment to watch.
“The most interesting thing that’s going to happen over the next couple of weeks is that fight,” Hearn said. “The IBF will not be allowed to do what they normally do there. There is no way, in my opinion, that Zuffa would allow them to do that, and they will have to make a decision.”
Hearn suggested that if sanctioning bodies are blocked from applying their rules, they may refuse to recognize certain results. That, he argued, would create what he called a “big freeze-out,” with fighters who go one direction potentially separated from the traditional title route.
“That will be the moment where everything changes,” he said. “That will be the big freeze-out.”
Hearn believes sanctioning bodies will soon have to make their position known instead of leaving the issue unresolved.
“These are the rules. Can you confirm we’ll be allowed to do this?” he said, describing the type of exchange he expects. “The answer will be no, or they just won’t reply.”
For Hearn, the issue is not theoretical. He sees the next few weeks as decisive in determining whether boxing continues under a single recognized championship path or begins operating with competing versions of legitimacy.
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