Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing are in the spotlight this weekend as Tony Bellew and David Haye resolve their differences in one of the most anticipated rematches of the year.
Despite Frank Warren’s recent huge BT Sport announcement about their continuing broadcasting partnership, Hearn does not see the veteran promoter as competition.
“You can look at the financial status of every business and when I look at their [Frank Warren Promotions] financial status, if that was me, I would be in hiding. As businesses, I don’t see us as competitors. As promoters in boxing? I still don’t. It’s a different feel. It’s a different brand, and I’m not saying they haven’t got good fighters because they have,” told Hearn to Boxing Social.
Recently Frank Warren’s social media account fired shots at Hearn over his attempt to sign Tyson Fury to Matchroom.
“I tried to sign Fury if fought the guys I wanted him to fight, not the guys he’s gonna fight. He has got fighters who are quality fighters but just on a promotional sense and the state of his business…I don’t see him as a competitor,” told Hearn.
Hearn then added:
“I respect him and he’s a survivor. That’s what you gotta say about Frank Warren. He always says ‘your dad [Barry Hearn] walked away from boxing.’ Matchroom Sport is a multi-sport business that survives with or without boxing. When a sport becomes hot or we build a sport to become hot, like we done with boxing, like we done with darts and snooker, of course we are in. We are in the deep end. When the landscape of a sport changes or another opportunity comes up, we didn’t leave boxing, we just didn’t focus on boxing,” said Hearn.
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW BELOW