Eddie Hearn has taken a moment to reflect on, and compliment, his team’s work in the sport.
Speaking to Boxing Social ahead of the Dmitry Bivol versus Gilberto Ramirez event this weekend in the UAE, the promoter from Essex said that no other boxing promoter was putting on events like him – and that people doubting it were wrong.
“We don’t really blow our own trumpet but we’re absolutely outrageous. You come here, you look around at what we’re doing around the world and [people are] like ‘oh Matchroom might be slipping a little bit.’ No, Matchroom are f***ing monsters and they are smashing global boxing – and nobody else is promoting shows around the world. We are the only global promotional company in the world. New levels every week.”
Hearn’s company has just come off the back of shows in Australia and Japan. This weekend they’re in Abu Dhabi, followed by Cleveland, London, and Arizona. In that sense, it’s hard to argue with the promoter’s boast.
It’s an exciting time for boxing fans given the number of companies vying for their attention, with the likes of BOXXER in the UK on the come up, some wild cards like BLK Prime throwing weight around, and the old school of Top Rank and Queensberry still guiding huge fighters.
What it should mean – especially with ambition and self-confidence like Hearn’s – is that the sport should grow in terms of mainstream interest. Having said that, there is an ongoing conversation about big fights in the sport.
Many fans believe that, despite the scale of events, until promoters are more open to working together and there are less stumbling blocks for mega events, boxing continues to suffer.