Zuffa Boxing’s latest event announcement sparked a mixed reaction from fans online after the promotion revealed Andres Cortes vs Eridson Garcia as the headline fight for Zuffa Boxing 05.
The event is scheduled for April 5 at Meta APEX and will stream on Paramount Plus.
Zuffa Boxing shared the news on social media while promoting the matchup between American contender Cortes and Dominican fighter Garcia as the card’s main event.
Shortly after the reveal, reactions across social media ranged from enthusiasm to confusion, with several fans questioning the “headline” billing while others admitted they were unfamiliar with the fighters involved, with some simply asking “who?” online.
Fan Reaction
Some users joked about the poster presentation, while others openly asked who the fighters were and whether the bout warranted main event status.
A smaller number of fans welcomed the matchup and expressed excitement about the promotion’s latest show.
The split reaction reflects the challenge facing the new promotion as it attempts to build recognizable names while developing its roster and schedule.
Expectations vs Reality
Dana White’s consistent berating of the other more established promoters puts him in a tough spot. Fans expect the best fights immediately, but Zuffa is clearly finding that easier said than done.
Both marquee signings to date — Jai Opetaia and Conor Benn — are stars in their respective countries. In the United States, they are largely unknown. The same could be said for the vast majority of the ninety-plus signings Zuffa recently announced.
They will eventually need to start signing top ten pound-for-pound stars. Those fighters are now even more tightly held by their own promoters.
The likes of Oleksandr Usyk, Naoya Inoue, and Shakur Stevenson will surely be tempted by offers from White and Zuffa. In the meantime, and especially while potential changes to the Ali Act remain unresolved, Zuffa and TKO may have to tread water for now, as Zuffa 05 suggests.
However, the fact that Mark Magsayo is not headlining the show is the biggest head-scratcher in the whole announcement.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
