Best Promoter in Britain And why

[Gavler]

IN Opiniom the moves Matchromo are making they get my vote

[Finch]

I think Matchroom if not now, will be this time next year. It is making huge strides and good to see. It will have Froch on PPV now and will help raise the profile of its stable and boxers.

Warren still has the big shows and is the PPV promotor, but James DeGale losing was a big blow. That said, no doubt he'll be taken down the Amir Khan route.

Hatton's and Maloney are a big step behind at the moment and Hennessy is dead, or at least will be when Chisora beats Fury.

[Gavler]

I think Matchroom if not now, will be this time next year. It is making huge strides and good to see. It will have Froch on PPV now and will help raise the profile of its stable and boxers.

Warren still has the big shows and is the PPV promotor, but James DeGale losing was a big blow. That said, no doubt he'll be taken down the Amir Khan route.

Hatton's and Maloney are a big step behind at the moment and Hennessy is dead, or at least will be when Chisora beats Fury.

Think your bang on the point there mate

[Londonirish]

There all good in different ways Hattons has only started out and its too early to say how good how bad they are, heard Steve wood is great but without TV he aint getting the recognition he deserves, Hennesy has been good and has put on some find show's but Now has lost alot of there Fighters, Maloney with Tv can and has put on some Great Show's putting on a lot of under card fighters at 50-50 matches most of these fights we dont get to see as they aint enough hours on Sky, putting in 2 of his tops Boys McDonnell Vs Hall not many other if any other Promoters would put two of there Best Boxers against each other W@rrem puts on some very good Bills and has some Great Boxer's but most of the under card fights will be Very one sided and and after going to a few become boring, he has the Top Names so when there is a good show it is VERY GOOD, Matchroom seems to be a bit like Man City getting some very good Boxer's in there Stable and starting to show's some great fights on Sky.

If you wanted to Go to a Show to see the Stars within a few years it would have to be a FW show...

[NazNaci1]

Matchroom, by some margin.

Good to see them looking to be top dogs. Eddie has done a good job, getting a good stable of fighters together.

He looks to match them quite decently, which is always a winner, in my book.

The old, 'Cream rises to the top' philosophy as opposed to the the 'Milk the cash cow' ideology (I think we know who we mean, here )

[mickey1975]

Fw at the moment. Look at DeGale-Groves, The O2 was packed and it was a massively talked about PPV fight for two lads at that stage of their careers! Hayemaker (Dave Coldwell) won the original bid and had The O2 on standby for that date as they thought Haye was going to box. They didnt have the balls or the stable to do it though, did they? Matchroom getting all the votes is interesting. They have been absolutely crap for years now. It strikes me Eddie is a Boxing fan and his dad has decided he is old enough now to take on a lot more responsibility and gave him a free reign with the Boxing arm. He is lapping it up and good luck to him, its great for us too. It helps SKY will bend over backwards for Matchroom considering the amount of other stuff they get off them (darts is huge!) and Prizefighter has been a huge success for SKY too, they love it. As for The Hattons, as Steve Wood said in BM, they must be losing a fortune. FTM are experienced and survivors who still put on good shows, they will be around for a long time yet.

[FtmPress]

In your eyes what makes a good promoter, Ones who build up fighter from the start or ones who just steal fighters after all the hard work has be done.

[mickey1975]

In your eyes what makes a good promoter, Ones who build up fighter from the start or ones who just steal fighters after all the hard work has be done.

Well,if you look at my above post, I gave you and FW the most credit, both of you I know build lads up. Mick Hennessy has to get credit for that as well.

[h smithy]

This is a hard one, all of these promoters have good and bad elements to them, go through the list, Warren has been around since the ice age and knows the business inside and out, he puts on a good show one month then a crap one the next, Maloney and Hatton keep putting on some good small hall shows but they will never set the world on fire.

I don't agree with that Matchroom are the number one promoter, it was only 6 months ago when they were holding shows at york hall and couldn't fill the hall, the shows were good for tv but they mainly used other promoters fighters, now that Fast Eddie has stepped up his quest in recent months i feel he is trying to run before he can walk, putting Barker in with Martinez, i hope it doesn't happen but this could destroy Barker and then what, matchroom are down to 2 boxers, froch and brook, Froch is getting on now, if he loses the Super Six then where does he go, could a 2nd lose break him as well. we have to remember if this happens Kessler, Bute and Ward will be fighting each other so that another 6 - 12 months that the wbc belt is tied up, where now Hopkins? what happens if he loses the light heavy wbc belt, Froch could be back at domestic level against degale / groves.

The you have a promoter that we e are writing off , the one who has come in for a lot of stick recently Hennessey, i know it looks like he was dead and buried but the news this week that he has managed to get channel 5 in to the game could show otherwise, we need to ask ourselves, out of all the promoters who has managed to get terriestrial tv back in the game, none so I think Hennessey should get a pat on the back for this, could this save british boxer, even if he doesn't have the stable but this will chnage could this open the door and for us fans who don't have sky and get boxer back to how it was 20 years ago.

so to wrap it up, time will tell if matchroom are the number one but over the next 6 months they could go from having 3 great fighters to one, then where for fast eddie, oh he could get a spot on that show the only way is essex!!!

[earsjohn]

This is a hard one, all of these promoters have good and bad elements to them, go through the list, Warren has been around since the ice age and knows the business inside and out, he puts on a good show one month then a crap one the next, Maloney and Hatton keep putting on some good small hall shows but they will never set the world on fire.

I don't agree with that Matchroom are the number one promoter, it was only 6 months ago when they were holding shows at york hall and couldn't fill the hall, the shows were good for tv but they mainly used other promoters fighters, now that Fast Eddie has stepped up his quest in recent months i feel he is trying to run before he can walk, putting Barker in with Martinez, i hope it doesn't happen but this could destroy Barker and then what, matchroom are down to 2 boxers, froch and brook, Froch is getting on now, if he loses the Super Six then where does he go, could a 2nd lose break him as well. we have to remember if this happens Kessler, Bute and Ward will be fighting each other so that another 6 - 12 months that the wbc belt is tied up, where now Hopkins? what happens if he loses the light heavy wbc belt, Froch could be back at domestic level against degale / groves.

The you have a promoter that we e are writing off , the one who has come in for a lot of stick recently Hennessey, i know it looks like he was dead and buried but the news this week that he has managed to get channel 5 in to the game could show otherwise, we need to ask ourselves, out of all the promoters who has managed to get terriestrial tv back in the game, none so I think Hennessey should get a pat on the back for this, could this save british boxer, even if he doesn't have the stable but this will chnage could this open the door and for us fans who don't have sky and get boxer back to how it was 20 years ago.

so to wrap it up, time will tell if matchroom are the number one but over the next 6 months they could go from having 3 great fighters to one, then where for fast eddie, oh he could get a spot on that show the only way is essex!!!

So Matchroom are in a potentially worse position than Henessey?

Matchroom who have arguably the best current British boxer in Carl Froch who probably has more lucrative options, win or lose, than any other fighter on the planet and is widely known across the US and in 2 short months has seen his profile in the UK grow massively as he's put in more PAs in 2 months than he did in 2 years while with Meaty Mick.

Matchroom who also have Kell Brook, a fighter while largely unproven above domestic level appears to have the tools and looks to be garnering decent local support for his first real step up from the domestic scene (a challenge that was not provided while under the wing of the great F Warren).

Matchroom who also have unbeaten European Middleweight champion Darren Barker who he has positioned for a shot at the divisions number 1 fighter in what will be a big fight, probably in Vegas shown live on US and UK TV - a fight he'll probably lose but there should be no shame in losing your toughest possible challenge.

Matchroom who developed and delivered Prizefighter - crude from a technical standpoint, but undeniably popular and consistent and serves up a great nights entertainment roughly once every 3 shows. The packed houses and viewing figures tell the story of how successful Matchroom have been at promoting the event.

In 2 short months, Matchroom have clearly progressed the careers of each of these three fighters, and while they may each lose their next fights, a promoters job is to put them into a position to generate as much as possible from their careers; it is the fighters responsibility to do the job in the ring.

Henessey, meanwhile, have Tyson Fury, a lumbering oaf of a fighter who is commonly seen to be no better than European level fighting on channel 5. Is this a great thing that Mick has done or has he been backed into a corner? He has paid a significant amount to win the bids for the fight, he has no TV deal with Sky and Prime Time/Premier would not have been willing to pay enough to cover the costs that Mick incurred for this fight alone. So instead we have this situation where Five cover the costs (probably) and use the fight as a live running advert for the fight later that night on their sister PPV channel, Prime Time. And as Mick said in the press release to announce this development, they'll be moving Tyson to Prime Time as soon as its seen as profitable. Hardly the words and deeds of the great boxing altruist that he's being made out to be.

[FIGHTFANs]

Not many promoters have put there top boys against each other Price v Dallas McDonnell Vs Hall well done to maloney

[leforge]

Not many promoters have put there top boys against each other Price v Dallas McDonnell Vs Hall well done to maloney

Agreed! I wonder when Rendall Munroe will fight again is the grass greener leaving Frank!

[FIGHTFANs]

[Agreed! I wonder when Rendall Munroe will fight again is the grass greener leaving Frank![/quote]

Spot on there it was big mistake Rendall leaving Maloney after all he got him a world title fight,I would of loved to see Rendall in with Jason booth

[h smithy]

Earsjohn - I’m not saying that but you obviously love Eddie. But I believe that Matchroom are jumping the gun and he is trying to make a name for himself not his boxers, why would anyone put Barker in with Martinez, I hope I’m wrong but this is a bad move, but as you have said "a promoters job is to put them into a position to generate as much as possible from their careers" surely if he was looking after his boxers career he wouldn’t end it so soon when Barker isn’t even 30 yet, he has other easier options than go for Martinez and make more money now for both the promoter and fighter, plus you have to ask the question why has Barkers trainer agreed to this?

And regarding Froch, what options will he have, not much at SMW, so he has to go up to LHW, the Pascal fight might now not be as big as it potentially was before he lost to Hopkins. But even if Froch does land a couple of big fights he will be finished in a year or 2, so that will leave just Brook, who is a great fighter, but has he got what it takes to become a recognised sportsman in the uk, I’m not so sure he has.

Regarding your comments about Prizefighter, it is getting boring now, and if I remember the international prize-fighter had poor ticket sales plus how many views – around 170k, and the welterweights didn’t even make the 10 ten so this must of got under 100k viewers, so do we class this as good?, the Froch fight only had around 200k viewers, not really getting out there to the general public is it, when fat mick had him on itv1 with around 3 millions viewers.

Also what has Matchroom done for their fighters, not that much, I bet the general public still haven’t heard of Brook, Froch they got him on sky sports news, ringside (how many people watch this under 200k!!!! not great is it, plus they are all sports fans, not general public ), in the papers, but then again he was in most of the national papers in the lead up to his fights under Hennessey, plus he was on BBC morning news the 2 days after the fight, did Matchroom do this? Nope!!!!

Not backing Hennessey but he has done wonders getting terrestrial TV back in the frame, and possibility of showcasing Fury to the general public. We do not have a clue what the deal is with channel 5 and Fat Mick but we as the fans need to keep our fingers crossed it works, this is the best news this year.

[jizzle]

Terrestrial TV isn't what it was...It's dead...Sky Sports regularly get more viewers for football than Five...It's down to content, timing and promotion...

[FtmPress]

In your eyes what makes a good promoter, Ones who build up fighter from the start or ones who just steal fighters after all the hard work has be done.

Well,if you look at my above post, I gave you and FW the most credit, both of you I know build lads up. Mick Hennessy has to get credit for that as well.

I agree with you here Hennessy has build up a few fighters as well. Who has any of the other build up from the start of there careers.

[FtmPress]

In your eyes what makes a good promoter, Ones who build up fighter from the start or ones who just steal fighters after all the hard work has be done.

Well,if you look at my above post, I gave you and FW the most credit, both of you I know build lads up. Mick Hennessy has to get credit for that as well.

I agree with you here Hennessy has build up a few fighters as well. Who has any of the other build up from the start of there careers.

[FIGHTFANs]

Earsjohn - I’m not saying that but you obviously love Eddie. But I believe that Matchroom are jumping the gun and he is trying to make a name for himself not his boxers, why would anyone put Barker in with Martinez, I hope I’m wrong but this is a bad move, but as you have said "a promoters job is to put them into a position to generate as much as possible from their careers" surely if he was looking after his boxers career he wouldn’t end it so soon when Barker isn’t even 30 yet, he has other easier options than go for Martinez and make more money now for both the promoter and fighter, plus you have to ask the question why has Barkers trainer agreed to this?

And regarding Froch, what options will he have, not much at SMW, so he has to go up to LHW, the Pascal fight might now not be as big as it potentially was before he lost to Hopkins. But even if Froch does land a couple of big fights he will be finished in a year or 2, so that will leave just Brook, who is a great fighter, but has he got what it takes to become a recognised sportsman in the uk, I’m not so sure he has.

x2

Regarding your comments about Prizefighter, it is getting boring now, and if I remember the international prize-fighter had poor ticket sales plus how many views – around 170k, and the welterweights didn’t even make the 10 ten so this must of got under 100k viewers, so do we class this as good?, the Froch fight only had around 200k viewers, not really getting out there to the general public is it, when fat mick had him on itv1 with around 3 millions viewers.

Also what has Matchroom done for their fighters, not that much, I bet the general public still haven’t heard of Brook, Froch they got him on sky sports news, ringside (how many people watch this under 200k!!!! not great is it, plus they are all sports fans, not general public ), in the papers, but then again he was in most of the national papers in the lead up to his fights under Hennessey, plus he was on BBC morning news the 2 days after the fight, did Matchroom do this? Nope!!!!

Not backing Hennessey but he has done wonders getting terrestrial TV back in the frame, and possibility of showcasing Fury to the general public. We do not have a clue what the deal is with channel 5 and Fat Mick but we as the fans need to keep our fingers crossed it works, this is the best news this year.

x 2

[dapug]

All the promoters are good in their own rights, Is all so about what fighters they have under their control todays market is all about moving with the times and building the new Lennox Lewis, Nigel Ben, Ricky Hatton or David Haye Look what happen with Micky Duff's set up they just fall from the top of the pile. Warren and Maloney have be around the longest and right now do not look like there going away they both know their way around. 2012 will be when we know who has raised from the pack. Right now it still has to be FW at no1.

[Chambers2]

It's Warren now he's stopped extensively padding records. Very impressed with Gorgeous Eddies Matchroom though, they're closing the gap on Warren, he's made some excellent signings now he needs to prove he get the right fights for his fighters (good start with N'Dou and Martinez)

Honourable mention to the resilient Mick Hennessey, he has great promoting ethics IMO, but he's been right royally fcuked over by TV companies

[jamesmcdonnell]

Still Warren, he's by far the more powerful player in the business.

Maloney puts on great cards, but is some way behind.

Hennessey is looking weakened at the moment, needs a TV deal urgently.

Matchroom have all the pedigree, and now that Barry's son is taking over the mantle for boxing - they look to be gaining fast.

[gobbles]

Matchroom, by some margin.

Good to see them looking to be top dogs. Eddie has done a good job, getting a good stable of fighters together.

He looks to match them quite decently, which is always a winner, in my book.

The old, 'Cream rises to the top' philosophy as opposed to the the 'Milk the cash cow' ideology (I think we know who we mean, here )

Are you for real? Ever been to a Matchroom show?

Apart from Prizefighter, what actually makes them Britain's top promoter?
They have never promoted a Froch fight, and are neither promoting his next one. The signed Kell Brook and are putting him on in the smallest venue in Sheffield, which is smaller than York Hall.
Darren Barker gets a world title shot on a Lou DiBella show. McCloskey got his title shot on a Khan Promotions show.
Audley Harrison got his shot on a Hayemake show?
So what, exactly, do they promote?

[jamesmcdonnell]

All the promoters are good in their own rights, Is all so about what fighters they have under their control todays market is all about moving with the times and building the new Lennox Lewis, Nigel Ben, Ricky Hatton or David Haye Look what happen with Micky Duff's set up they just fall from the top of the pile. Warren and Maloney have be around the longest and right now do not look like there going away they both know their way around. 2012 will be when we know who has raised from the pack. Right now it still has to be FW at no1.

Duff's demise was to do with the end of 'The Cartel's' monopoly on TV dates. Once that changed it opened the floodgates. Did Warren take the BBC to court in the end?

[Ezzard]

Is there a book/study of the history of boxing promoters?

[earsjohn]

Earsjohn - I’m not saying that but you obviously love Eddie. But I believe that Matchroom are jumping the gun and he is trying to make a name for himself not his boxers, why would anyone put Barker in with Martinez, I hope I’m wrong but this is a bad move, but as you have said "a promoters job is to put them into a position to generate as much as possible from their careers" surely if he was looking after his boxers career he wouldn’t end it so soon when Barker isn’t even 30 yet, he has other easier options than go for Martinez and make more money now for both the promoter and fighter, plus you have to ask the question why has Barkers trainer agreed to this?

And regarding Froch, what options will he have, not much at SMW, so he has to go up to LHW, the Pascal fight might now not be as big as it potentially was before he lost to Hopkins. But even if Froch does land a couple of big fights he will be finished in a year or 2, so that will leave just Brook, who is a great fighter, but has he got what it takes to become a recognised sportsman in the uk, I’m not so sure he has.

Regarding your comments about Prizefighter, it is getting boring now, and if I remember the international prize-fighter had poor ticket sales plus how many views – around 170k, and the welterweights didn’t even make the 10 ten so this must of got under 100k viewers, so do we class this as good?, the Froch fight only had around 200k viewers, not really getting out there to the general public is it, when fat mick had him on itv1 with around 3 millions viewers.

Also what has Matchroom done for their fighters, not that much, I bet the general public still haven’t heard of Brook, Froch they got him on sky sports news, ringside (how many people watch this under 200k!!!! not great is it, plus they are all sports fans, not general public ), in the papers, but then again he was in most of the national papers in the lead up to his fights under Hennessey, plus he was on BBC morning news the 2 days after the fight, did Matchroom do this? Nope!!!!

Not backing Hennessey but he has done wonders getting terrestrial TV back in the frame, and possibility of showcasing Fury to the general public. We do not have a clue what the deal is with channel 5 and Fat Mick but we as the fans need to keep our fingers crossed it works, this is the best news this year.

My man love for Eddie is a result of him and matchroom breathing some life into boxing over the last 6-12 months. The broadcast environment has changed and the requirements of promotion are fundamentally different now to what they were even just 5 years ago. I get a sense that Matchroom recognise this much more than some of their competitors and certainly the so called best promoter in Europe, Mr Warren.

Barker - each to their own - I'd rather see him lose to Martinez then go on to fights with lower ranking belt holders than take the so-called proper route that sees him take on fringe contenders, what i call the Sobot-Starie-Thornberry-Sheika route.

Options for Froch? Rematches with Ward, Kessler, Dirrell, Pascal. Matches with Bute at SMW or Hopkins, Dawson, Cloud, Cleverly at LHW. Each of those fights is an easy sell either side of the Atlantic.

I'm not saying Froch is now a crossover star, but anecdotally (as that is all I can go on) he appears to be on TV and in the papers a lot more in the last 2 months than at any time in his career. He will be part of the Haye-Wlad presenting team, he uses Twitter now where he didn't under Henessey - his profile among boxing and non-boxing fans is undoubtedly greater. Yes, Henessey had him on ITV with 3m viewers. But then he didn't have him on TV at all. Would any other Promoter have been in a position where they couldn't get live TV coverage for their boxer in a World Title fight? 200k is better than zero (and probably does not include those who Sky+'ed to watch in the morning). You can quote the ITV related circumstances all you like, but the fact remains that Henessey did not do for Froch what other promoters have done for fighters from similar or weaker positions. At some point the Promoter has to hold his hands up and take the blame.

Brook - probably still unknown to the general public. But its surely better to us boxing anoraks that he's headlining his own show against someone as sturdy and competitive as Lovemore N'Dou than turning up 5th on the bill against Philip Kotey?

And you'll have to explain how Henessey has done wonders getting terrestrial back? Reading the press release it is clear that this is a unique situation that is intended to build Tyson as a Prime Time PPV option. He says that outright. If this was the start of some new era of terrestrial coverage, don't you think it a little strange that he's desperately talking about getting Tyson on PPV? And what happens when Fury loses to Chisora? Will Channel Five still be interested knowing that there is limited potential future PPV earnings from him? I doubt it. It would better news if someone with a sturdier stable of boxers signed up to a 3 card deal or something similar rather than a one off fight as a pre-cursor to fight later that night on another channel they are desperate to plug and future fights with Tyson on the same PPV channel.