Who is Jalil ‘Major’ Hackett, The Latest ‘Gem’ Of American Boxing?
On Friday it was announced that Matchroom Boxing had agreed a multi-fight partnership with welterweight prospect Jalil Hackett.
Hackett (8-0-0 7 KO) may be in the early stages of his professional career, but the 21-year-old is already developing a reputation as one of the brightest talents in world boxing.
From a glittering amateur career to entering the professional ranks under the tutelage of Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, Hackett is now taking the next step in his career with the guidance of Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn.
“I’m so happy to have signed with the biggest promoters in the game,” Hackett said in a statement. “Eddie and Matchroom have a plan for my development that I’m really excited by, and I cannot wait to get back in the ring.”
Hearn, who has guided the career of Anthony Joshua from novice to unified world champion as well as dozens of other fighters, is understandably excited to work with the fighter nicknamed ‘Major’.
“Jalil is a fantastic young talent,” said Hearn. “Building the stars of the future is something that we love to do at Matchroom. In Jalil, we have a real gem. So many of America’s best fighters speak very highly of their work with him in the gym.
“He’s got an old head on young shoulders, which bodes well for his short and long-term development in the sport. We’re really excited to get the next phase of his journey moving. In his first fight with us to be announced next week, the training wheels are off. It’s an excellent test on a very big stage.”
As the boxing world prepares to see much more of ‘Major’, here is everything you need to know about this exciting young talent.
Hackett’s Boxing Background
Hackett, from Washington D.C, began boxing at eight years old when he was introduced to the sport by his father Bernard Hackett, who still trains him today. The pair train at Enigma Boxing Gym in D.C. – the gym founded by the late, great Gary Russell Sr., who once trained Hackett Sr as an amateur.
The young Hackett had a natural talent and would enjoy excellent amateur success; he amassed 140 wins and just 19 defeats, winning 10 national tournament titles and several international competitions.
With Enigma Gym and Upton Boxing Center in Baltimore often collaborating by sending fighters to spar with each other, Hackett soon crossed paths with lightweight world champion Gervonta Davis.
In 2019 when ‘Tank’ was preparing to face Ricardo Nunez, Hackett was called in as a sparring partner. So impressed was the champion with the 16-year-old amateur, he made Hackett his main sparring partner and urged Mayweather Promotions to sign him.
A Faultless Pro Career So Far
Hackett turned pro at the age of 18 and with Mayweather as his mentor, immediately benefitted from his promoter’s status. He made his debut on the undercard of Mayweather’s exhibition bout with Logan Paul in Miami in July 2021, securing a first-round TKO.
“[Mayweather] is a great role model. He’s always there to give great advice,” Hackett told The Ring Magazine in an interview in July last year. “He’s the perfect promoter because he definitely understands what it’s like to be a young black athlete so we can definitely relate on different levels. I really like being under the tutelage of Floyd.”
He has gained further experience of participating in big-show atmospheres by fighting on the undercard of four Davis events, including Tank’s most recent: his knockout win over Ryan Garcia last April.
“I honestly feel like fighting on these big cards, even when you fight early on the cards, it prepares you for all the stuff that leads up to fighting in the larger arenas,” Hackett said.
It was a partnership that looked to be developing well. Hackett fought twice more in 2021 and after being restricted to one bout in 2022 due to the COVID pandemic, he returned to fight four times in 20223.
However, his last bout was in December – a third-round TKO of Adrian Gutierrez to earn the WBC youth silver title – and his recent inactivity led to his split from Mayweather Promotions.
“I felt that in order to grow, in terms of my career, I would have to do it elsewhere,” Hackett told YSM Sports Media in April, shortly after leaving Mayweather Promotions. “Last year was my most active year, and in order to continue doing that, I think going to a different promoter will be the best move for me.”
What’s Next For Hackett?
“My next fight will be announced next week,” Hackett said when confirming his move to Matchroom. “It’s a really good step up. [It’s] the type of tests that I want at this stage of my career, where I am looking to develop but also prove that I am the real deal.”
It will be curious to see what sort of “step up” Hackett will face in his next fight once it’s been revealed. Hearn will be keen to get the balance right between fast-tracking a major talent and carefully navigating his rise to ensure the right opponents for his various stages of development.
Looking beyond his next fight, Hackett said he wants to fight at least two more times in 2024, and if he stays unbeaten while fighting increasingly better opposition, he should find himself quickly climbing the rankings.
It could set up an exciting 2025 when ‘Major’ will no doubt have aims to crack the top 10 rankings of the welterweight division to eventually put himself in the frame for world title shots.
