Matchroom set to try 9pm start time for main events in 2025

[Ruthless-RKO]

Matchroom set to try 9pm start time for main events in 2025

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed he will explore earlier main event start times in 2025.

Hearn was talking to IFL after Terri Harper’s points victory over Rhiannon Dixon in Sheffield, a main event that saw a comparatively early finish to the show after several undercard fights went short.

“It wasn’t intentional tonight, we had some early stoppages, but [it’s] so much better,” said Hearn.

“I just feel like everyone leaving here tonight has gone, ‘Oh, 10 o’clock, we could pop for a pint’, or ‘we could go for a bite to eat’, or ‘we could just go home and get a good night’s kip’.”

Hearn had already told BS that he and his team were “looking to do things differently” next year.

“Next week, we begin all our meetings at the HQ about how we’re going to change the shows for 2025. One of the big things is a 9pm main event. Guaranteed. Or, as close to guaranteed as possible. What a difference it makes,” Hearn added.

“Historically, boxing has always dragged on ‘til like 10.15, 10.30, 10.45, 11pm main event. It doesn’t have to be like that.”

[Boxerbeetle]

Long overdue change, hopefully they actually commit to it. Frank's shows are the worst, drag on far too late, sometimes even after public transport (such as it is, in this shitty country) has finished.

[JamesPhilips]

I think that’s a good touch. But may leave the early fights with barely any viewers

[handsofstone]

Count me in, I'm 40 now, I'm toiling by half 8, as for American show, forgeddabouditt

[Ruthless-RKO]

I think that’s a good touch. But may leave the early fights with barely any viewers

Not necessarily..

They can still start at 4 or 4:30pm

It’s sometimes the case where they waste time between fights, or if a fight finishes early, the’ll wait.

Tbh, I’m even happy with a main even start time off 10pm.

As along as they on the ring by 10, and can start round 1

[SeanBrennan]

Count me in, I'm 40 now, I'm toiling by half 8, as for American show, forgeddabouditt

also 40 here and ailing by 11.....

[a force]

It doesn’t need to be 9pm. 10pm is fine. The issue is it was becoming a regular thing of post 11pm start times for main events on both Hearn & Warren cards

[Frostieballs]

Game. Changed.

[gregregegg]

Would be great for uk fans so they should do it. Sucks in Aus, maineventmocesfrom 7am to5 am, makes the undercard unwatchable.

[Ruthless-RKO]

[keithmoonhangover]

Twitter's strange. Any sensible person know that if undercard fights are first round stoppages, it can have a big influence on timings.

[veriton]

I listened belatedly to bunces preview podcast about dixon v harper, im sure he said bbc live coverage would start at 10pm on the night...but it was actually all over by then!

[tony1234]

I'd be glad if the main event started at 10pm or earlier, I remember some of Frank's shows main events starting well after midnight and I think one was nearly 1am.
If you go to the show it is a right pain getting home and if you watch it you're falling asleep especially if there is a long gap between fights.
They could always put another bout on after the main event in case of an early finish and then stagger people wanting to leave.

[mickey1975]

10 ringwalks are OK if they stick to it.

[handsofstone]

There's no harm in trying a few shows on the bounce to gauge what like, Catterall/Prograis in a couple of weeks for example, I hate watching boxing live, 9 o'clocks perfect, that's an extra hours kip if your planning on setting the alarm for an American show

[dan28uk]

Count me in, I'm 40 now, I'm toiling by half 8, as for American show, forgeddabouditt

same! used to stay up and watch them no chance now just have to record or youtube next day and try not see the results before

[MasterG]

Yeh, have the main event at 9pm and put some rubbish on afterwards if anyone wants to stay. Often the arena isn't full until the main attraction so it makes sense.

[coneye]

Aaaww well ,, suppose all good things come to an end , here it works out great , , get up early if i think the british shows are going to be good , watch the prelims , , if i don't fancy them just get up normal time 6.30 --- 7am watch the main events , sometimes they drag on , go longer , suits me , i go make a coffee , peice of toast , i settle in , because its weekend and the boss is'nt gonna get up early , so i get peice and quiet while i watch ,

Then if i'm lucky theres a top yankee show on straight after , they usually finish around 2pm , so i get a full day of it , looks like Eddie is gonna stuff all tyhat up has well

[KiwiRider]

9pm
Is there some sort of coke shortage there or something?

[garethhop]

I'm all for the changes mentioned Problems are twofold of course:
Needing to fill the arena with ticket sellers who don't really warrant prime TV slots and who you don't want in a 50/50 yet, so they get 40 minutes of time post 8.30....
Trying to put a running order that allow opportunity for knockouts, has little down time and isn't too long or short is almost impossible....

Shalom talked of this but never delivered.

[JamesPhilips]

10 ringwalks are OK if they stick to it.

Exactly. Or 10pm first bell

[THEBUTCH]

9pm much better and TBH, if they are aiming for 9pm that should at least ensure the 1st bell is before 10pm !

[magnus]

I'm all for the changes mentioned Problems are twofold of course:
Needing to fill the arena with ticket sellers who don't really warrant prime TV slots and who you don't want in a 50/50 yet, so they get 40 minutes of time post 8.30....
Trying to put a running order that allow opportunity for knockouts, has little down time and isn't too long or short is almost impossible....

Shalom talked of this but never delivered.

The UFC manage this pretty well. Very occasionally there are so many early finishes they need to pad things out (particularly on the "prelim" card, when they will utilise ex-fighters talking in studio), but it's not as noticeable. It helps that every fight has a promo package put together, featuring both fighters, which helps build interest. Endless minutes of Johnny Nelson and chums chatting absolutely kills my desire to watch anything "live".

I appreciate that's not as straightforward when half your card is put together using faceless paid losers but that's another problem to fix.

[deadpan]

Does those mean he will no longer book the women's title fight just before the main event that is a guaranteed 45 minutes that nobody is getting back.

[cormack]

I dont mind as with 1 hour time difference its ok for me .

doubt it will really be the trend though as advertisers etc come into play - I saw EH talking about it and got the impression he likes it so he can get away home at a reasonable time .