Eddie Hearn: ‘I used to be the Dr. Evil of pay-per-view. Now there’s one a week!’

[Ruthless-RKO]

Eddie Hearn addressed the nascent World Boxing Super Series, which is reaching the end of the first round of fights in its quarter-final stage.

“I’m looking at it as an opportunity for our fighters. Many promoters would go I’m not putting our fighters in. But I’m actually thinking we’ve got so many fighters and the money’s good,” he told Boxing News. “It’s not like you lose your fighter. You put him in it and he could come out the other end a superstar and they’ve done all the work for you. There’s a long way to go but certainly the production’s really good. I think they missed a trick not putting Eubank on ITV 1 and this one [Groves-Cox], I think that would have huge. Because then the semi becomes really big.

“But I don’t think ITV are looking to make an investment into boxing. They’re looking to see how boxing can make them money commercially.”

These quarter-finals have been on ITV Box Office, rather than free-to-air television. “Back to back pay per views, the great news is it takes all the pressure off me because I was Dr. Evil pay-per-view, now there’s one a week. I keep saying to people look at the comparisons of the cards that we’re putting on,” Hearn said.

“As far as the tournament goes, it’s good. The correct format is the cruiserweight format where you’ve got every world champion in. So you can honestly say the winner of that tournament is the best cruiserweight in the world and is the undisputed champion. That’s great, if they can get more weight divisions and do that, great. The problem is the commercially bigger divisions, heavyweight, welterweight.”

It would require an astronomic sum for instance for Anthony Joshua to enter a heavyweight version. “Joshua is the problem, the others would probably go in,” his promoter said. “Fighters who are commercially big like to be in control of their business and what they’re doing.”

[Counter-puncher]

“But I don’t think ITV are looking to make an investment into boxing. They’re looking to see how boxing can make them money commercially.”[/i]

[lefty]

“But I don’t think ITV are looking to make an investment into boxing. They’re looking to see how boxing can make them money commercially.”[/i]

Yeah because Eddie is purely in it for altruistic reasons

The reason why ITV is putting them on PPV (and I'm not even sure it's ITV'S decision but rather Kalle Sauelands and probably Chris Eubwnk jnr, etc) is because the standalone licence fee ITV would be willing to pay, nowhere near covers the amount of money that has been invested in the tournament.

[olij999]

I am more concerned with his interpretation of Dr. Evil's character in the Austin Powers films. Very odd comparison to make.

[lefty]

I am more concerned with his interpretation of Dr. Evil's character in the Austin Powers films. Very odd comparison to make.

Well he is a guy that if somebody criticises him on twitter; he'll just say they look like sloth off the goonies lol. He's not very original.

[mullenman]

I agree with Edward on this one

[jamamb]

ya is big ed not doing for commercial reasons too. captain obvious that theyre trying to see how it works commercially, and wtf is with 'they're not making an investment, but trying to see how it works commercially'. thats called an investment bro

hes right that its just not all him though. hes like the haymon of british boxing where ppl want to blame him for everything.

[lefty]

ya is big ed not doing for commercial reasons too. captain obvious that theyre trying to see how it works commercially

hes right that its just not all him though. hes like the haymon of british boxing where ppl want to blame him for everything.

Not sure if that post was a dig at me.

[jamamb]

it wasnt mate. i agree with you. big ed makes it out like hes criticizing them for being in it commercially, as if thats not what pretty much everyone in pro boxing is doing. and his words dont make much sense, saying theyre not investing in boxing but just trying to see how it works financially. thats an inverstment, is it not!

i do think he does a great job overall though and gets too much hate. far more energy in brit boxign these days and fighters with other promoters have benefitted. a guy like dubois imo is certainly benefitting from the shine ajs brought to brit hw division for example.

[tobyh5]

Not a fan of Edward but he has a fair point. We know he likes his PPV and we moan at their value but at least you can see some justification for them, all these other ones are just complete shite and Eubank trying to justify them by saying it is just a couple pints and bag of crisps is detached from reality. Could say that about anything - Corrie for a quid per episode? Great entertainment for all the family for less than a box of cereal

[dirk2686]

He's right. PPV shows are dictated as to their worth by people willing to pay for them. It's basic, basic, basic economics.

I've said several times on here that I'm not opposed to the PPV model as I recall being unable to afford Sky/BN but able to afford a PPV with my friends. But these days I'm lucky enough to afford the lot and I wouldn't dream of paying for Eubank Quinlan as even with boxing being my favourite sport by miles I still have better things to do on a Saturday night.

[lefty]

Not a fan of Edward but he has a fair point. We know he likes his PPV and we moan at their value but at least you can see some justification for them, all these other ones are just complete shite and Eubank trying to justify them by saying it is just a couple pints and bag of crisps is detached from reality. Could say that about anything - Corrie for a quid per episode? Great entertainment for all the family for less than a box of cereal

They're PPV (even it doesn't help in the long run) because the world series of boxing is desperately trying to make an ROI. Even to just break even would be good I imagine. A lot of money has been pumped into the tournament. The licence fee itself that ITV would pay for put it on regular ITV, wouldn't be anywhere near enough to cover the outgoings.

[tobyh5]

Not a fan of Edward but he has a fair point. We know he likes his PPV and we moan at their value but at least you can see some justification for them, all these other ones are just complete shite and Eubank trying to justify them by saying it is just a couple pints and bag of crisps is detached from reality. Could say that about anything - Corrie for a quid per episode? Great entertainment for all the family for less than a box of cereal

They're PPV (even it doesn't help in the long run) because the world series of boxing is desperately trying to make an ROI. Even to just break even would be good I imagine. A lot of money has been pumped into the tournament. The licence fee itself that ITV would pay for put it on regular ITV, wouldn't be anywhere near enough to cover the outgoings.

I just cannot imagine the buy rate on these other non Sky PPV would pay for much, not even the diesel to drive the trucks to the venue to set up the cameras!

[lefty]

Not a fan of Edward but he has a fair point. We know he likes his PPV and we moan at their value but at least you can see some justification for them, all these other ones are just complete shite and Eubank trying to justify them by saying it is just a couple pints and bag of crisps is detached from reality. Could say that about anything - Corrie for a quid per episode? Great entertainment for all the family for less than a box of cereal

They're PPV (even it doesn't help in the long run) because the world series of boxing is desperately trying to make an ROI. Even to just break even would be good I imagine. A lot of money has been pumped into the tournament. The licence fee itself that ITV would pay for put it on regular ITV, wouldn't be anywhere near enough to cover the outgoings.

I just cannot imagine the buy rate on these other non Sky PPV would pay for much, not even the diesel to drive the trucks to the venue to set up the cameras!

Well that's a valid point aswell. I have a feeling that they're probably gonna end up losing money whatever, the case may be!

Ive said this before but the one area I think Sky has an advantage over ITV, BT sports, and any other PPV provider is their Sky Sports news channel. Thar just constantly puts out info on upcoming fights on sky sports and the other competitors, don't have anything like that. I think it's a big advantage.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

I doubt they had to pay put much at all for this. It was way late in the game. Itv is just looking to make what they can on home talent, knowing that is the only marketable thing about that tourney.

[SaadOffTheDeck]

Did it buy the whole tourney or just the qf? It's on a crazy obscure channel here, thankfully I have it, just for the qf.

[mickey1975]

I bet Eddie is gutted really that he hasn't got Groves-Eubank or the final, possibly including Smith. They're big hitters on Sky sports ppv. He could end up coming out of this with two of his main men coming out with one loss each.

[moogie101]

I bet Eddie is gutted really that he hasn't got Groves-Eubank or the final, possibly including Smith. They're big hitters on Sky sports ppv. He could end up coming out of this with two of his main men coming out with one loss each.

Possibly, but I still reckon the final is Groves/ Smith & Eddie comes out of the tournament looking like a genius after letting someone else build up his fighters.

[mickey1975]

I bet Eddie is gutted really that he hasn't got Groves-Eubank or the final, possibly including Smith. They're big hitters on Sky sports ppv. He could end up coming out of this with two of his main men coming out with one loss each.

Possibly, but I still reckon the final is Groves/ Smith & Eddie comes out of the tournament looking like a genius after letting someone else build up his fighters.

Groves is is with Kalle.

[ILikeBeer]

Odd comments to make from Hearn.

“But I don’t think ITV are looking to make an investment into boxing. They’re looking to see how boxing can make them money commercially.”

Well, yeah. That's kind of stating the obvious. Anybody on this forum could've told you that.

"These quarter-finals have been on ITV Box Office, rather than free-to-air television. “Back to back pay per views, the great news is it takes all the pressure off me because I was Dr. Evil pay-per-view, now there’s one a week. I keep saying to people look at the comparisons of the cards that we’re putting on,” Hearn said. "

So, because other channels are now charging for PPV, that makes it alright when Hearn does it? Does Eddie think that now there's a PPV every week, that means it's what fans want? It's because of decades worth of Sky's greed in charging extra for fights, that other channels are now trying to get away with it.

Conning some of the casuals into thinking this is the norm to the extent that other channels are cashing in on it, doesn't mean charging for PPVs is a good thing. Hearn sounds like he thinks we should be grateful to him. Or at least, stop criticising him now other people are doing the same thing.

[mickey1975]

Which is the more intriguing fight, Edward?
Joshua-Takam or Groves-Eubank jr.?

[ILikeBeer]

Which is the more intriguing fight, Edward?
Joshua-Takam or Groves-Eubank jr.?

[Stuarty]

Which is the more intriguing fight, Edward?
Joshua-Takam or Groves-Eubank jr.?

Brilliant Or should I say 'freekin brilliant'

[Ruthless-RKO]

Which is the more intriguing fight, Edward?
Joshua-Takam or Groves-Eubank jr.?

Put them together..

Joshua & Groves vs. Takam & Eubank Jr. in a tag team Boxing fight.

[darkstar81]

Because then the semi becomes really big..”

hehehehe