Jessica McCaskill has come correct on outlandish claims made against Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing.
The lineal and unified WBC/WBA welterweight champion walked back previous statements made during Wednesday’s installment of Tha Boxing Voice podcast where she accused Matchroom of having the power to manipulate drug tests. The conversation initially centered around a recent drug testing development which involved undisputed junior lightweight champion Alycia Baumgardner.
It then went in another direction, including the potential repercussions when a boxer doesn’t extend an agreement with a promotional company. McCaskill acknowledged that what she had to say could result in repercussions surrounding her scheduled September 23 title unification bout versus WBO titlist Sandy Ryan. The bout is part of a Matchroom-promoted DAZN show from Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Ryan (6-1, 2KOs) is promoted by Matchroom, who was the promoter of record for McCaskill’s past nine fights. The run also included a previous agreement between the two, which has since expired. McCaskill (12-3, 5KOs) acknowledged that she signed a two-fight deal with Matchroom to land the fight versus Ryan in a bid to regain the WBO title.
Hearn immediately contacted Rick Ramos—McCaskill’s manager, head trainer and fiancé—over the matter, to which McCaskill responded with a video posted on Instagram with her version of an apology.
“It seems like some things have been shaking up the past couple of days,” McCaskill said in a video statement posted on her IG story and that of Ramos’ account. “It seems like I had a pretty decent hand in that. First, I would like to apologize my fiancé Rick Ramos—also my trainer and manager—because I know I’ve been stressing you out with all this ruckus.
“It seems like Matchroom has been offended by the conversation that was had [Wednesday] with Tha Boxing Voice, shoutout to Tha Boxing Voice. It seems like the overall conversation as a whole might have been misunderstood. Either way, my apologies for the conversation and everyone being offended by the things that I said.”
That clearly didn’t fly with Hearn, who’d previously voiced his displeasure in interviews with other outlets over the matter and suggested legal action could be taken.
“The statements I made about Matchroom/Eddie Hearn on ThaBoxingVoice (8/16/23) were 100% untrue,” McCaskill said in a statement released Friday morning. “I apologize for my statement(s) that were made. I am sorry and apologize for the mistake.”
McCaskill’s idea of an apology clearly didn’t fly with Hearn and Matchroom. A more sincere approach was taken on Friday.
“The statements I made about Matchroom/Eddie Hearn on ThaBoxingVoice (8/16/23) were 100% untrue,” McCaskill acknowledged. “I apologize for my statement(s) that were made. I am sorry and apologize for the mistake.”
Whatever action was previously considered by Matchroom, the stance from Ryan and her team was to allow the fight to proceed.
“Imagine talking shit on your promoter that’s putting you in a massive fight, you absolute clown,” Ryan said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on which she tagged McCaskill’s account. “Be ready [September] 23.
“She’s not a savage, she’s a clown and I actually respect her massively as a fighter,” Ryan said in another post. “But am gonna beat her ass [September] 23.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox