Matchroom Boxing sign Sunny Edwards, Jack Catterall and Shannon Ryan
By Niall O'Connell
Matchroom Boxing have today announced a trio of signings to their stable, as they have acquired the signatures of Sunny Edwards, Jack Catterall and Shannon Ryan.
"I'm delighted to further strengthen Matchroom's growing global of unrivalled talent with three exciting new additions ahead of a huge night of boxing tomorrow at The O2," said Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn.
"Sunny Edwards is one of the most naturally gifted boxers we have produced in the UK and I'm incredibly excited to finally get the opportunity to work with him and give him the opportunities to unify the flyweight division. Sunny can certainly talk the talk and he can definitely walk the walk and a fight against WBC ruler Julio Cesar Martinez is a must for 2023.
27 year old Edwards is the current IBF Flyweight champion, having widely outpointed veteran South African Moruti Mthalane to win the gold in London in 2021. He has gone on to defend the belt successfully three times, and he now hopes his new promotional stable can finally secure him the mammoth unification bouts he is seeking with the rest of the 112-pound elite, most notably an eagerly anticipated grudge match against big punching WBC champion Julio Cesar Martinez.
“I’m extremely excited at this stage of my career to be partnering up with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing,” said Edwards.
“Eddie has always been one of the most influential men on the boxing circuit since I’ve been involved in the sport and the conversations were simple, we both want to deliver the biggest fights possible every time.
Jack Catterall, from Chorley, is desperate to finally become a world champion in his own right, having found himself on the wrong end of a highly controversial decision loss against Josh Taylor for the undisputed super lightweight crown in 2022. It has already been announced that he will compete for the first time under his new promotional banner on May 27th, and a victory there will surely place him in prime position for another crack at world honours at 140lbs later on in 2023.
"I'm excited for the next phase of my career," said Catterall.
"Teaming up with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing and DAZN is a massive step in the right direction for me. There are going to be some huge nights in the future and I'm excited to get the ball rolling and to be involved in some career-defining fights over the next couple of years. I have been working tremendously hard in the gym and I will be ready for any opportunity that presents itself. I'm grateful to be in this position and I'm looking forward to kicking off a successful relationship with Matchroom and DAZN."
Hearn said of his new signing, "Jack Catterall is another signing that we are massively excited about, and he should arguably be the reigning undisputed super-lightweight world champion following his brilliant performance against Josh Taylor in February 2022. Jack is itching to get back into the ring following a layoff that was out of his control and there are some big fights to make for him in the competitive 140lbs division."
Watford super flyweight Ryan made her professional bow in March of 2022, and has amassed a perfect undefeated record so far, as she has been managed by former unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua. Now, she takes another massive step in her promising career as she looks to continue her charge towards titles.
“I’m very excited to start this next chapter of my career under the Matchroom Boxing promotional banner,” said Ryan.
“I look forward to being able to showcase my skills on the big stage and to millions of people around the world on DAZN. Being in those big fights and collecting those world titles is why I am in this sport and with the backing of my team, 258 Management, O2 and Matchroom Boxing I’m confident that I can fulfil my potential.”
"Women's boxing is truly thriving at the moment with some monster fights on the horizon including our historic Katie Taylor vs. Chantelle Cameron homecoming event in Dublin on May 20" said Eddie Hearn.
"Another fighter that has a bright future to look forward to is Watford super-flyweight talent Shannon Ryan. We have the best roster of female talent in world boxing and Shannon is now in the perfect place to develop and grow into the latest star."
