Matchrooms's Expansion Good Or Bad For British Boxing?

[danamba7]

Bit by bit Matchroom are signing most of the bigger stars in British boxing. I think most people will see this potential monopoly as a bad thing with limited competition meaning Eddie can do pretty much as he pleases. On the other hand, Matchroom are providing us with Froch Groves 2 of course, and now it looks as though there'll also be Cleverly Bellew 2 and either Froch Degale or Groves Degale 2, all of which are big fights. If he also manages to pull off Khan Brook then us Brits are getting spoiled with big fights without the politics of rival promoters to get in the way (i.e TR and GB in the states).

So overall, do you think it's good or bad for British boxing?

[Gazmac81]

If he indeed puts the fighters he signs in with top quality opponents or against each other then im all for it as it will make my sky viewing alot more worth the value.

F.Warrren - seemed to have the fighters but very rarley untill one off them was seen as passed it did they ever fight,

if Eddies gets the supermiddleweights that hes signed in with each other then it will be great viewing,

maybe not great for Boxing at grass roots but then its up to fighters to earn the right to be up in the limelight,

Ideal senario is - become and amateur star and sign a big contact with Eddie Hearn , thats what i would want for my son if it was the time :)

If allegedly was on Sky though then he would be the choice , that seems to be the carrott - Sky boxing

[danamba7]

If he indeed puts the fighters he signs in with top quality opponents or against each other then im all for it as it will make my sky viewing alot more worth the value.

F.Warrren - seemed to have the fighters but very rarley untill one off them was seen as passed it did they ever fight,

if Eddies gets the supermiddleweights that hes signed in with each other then it will be great viewing,

maybe not great for Boxing at grass roots but then its up to fighters to earn the right to be up in the limelight,

Ideal senario is - become and amateur star and sign a big contact with Eddie Hearn , thats what i would want for my son if it was the time :)

If allegedly was on Sky though then he would be the choice , that seems to be the carrott - Sky boxing

Completely agree.

[milpool]

It could go either way. If Eddie regularly matches his stable and we get some great fights, then it could be a good thing.
If he keeps them all apart, protects their records or puts them in endless eliminators against low quality opposition, then it will be bad.
It's a question we should probably revisit in five years time.

[palooka]

It's not an ideal situation as there's not enough SKY dates to keep all the boxers busy enough to develop and improve. It's a shame that the business people involved are so greedy and hard headed they just cannot work together, none of them seem able to trust each other.

[Clint Magnum]

Bad.

The sport needs at least three top level promoters in the UK, over more than one network, one of which really should be terrestrial IMO.

[Sklar]

I'd like to see Matchroom & BoxNat licensing big fight highlights to one of the Freeview channels. I'm sure it'd pay dividends for them long term. Yes, there's YouTube and what not but there are poor kids out there who are definitely not getting any exposure to top quality boxing and that's a shame. They're the next generation of participants and consumers or not as the case may be. There's absolutely no way I'd be sat here typing this had subscription TV been about when I was a kid.

[whiskey]

When all the main promoters were on Sky - none of the big fights ever happened because of their rivalries.

Wazza, Mick, Maloney all battling against one another instead of working with one another - and Matchroom's Prizefighter and the odd Ally Pally show in the background.

One went off to Setanta, the other to ITV, the other was sacked off by sky alongside Ricky whom only had a brief stint.

Now if all the top fighters are with one promoter - and they are going to put them in with big names home and abroad, then I cannot see what issue anyone would have from a punter's point of view.

The shows are extremely regular, the fighters all seem well fed with paths to titles and opportunities - and no money grumbles or shows falling apart.

[Sklar]

When all the main promoters were on Sky - none of the big fights ever happened because of their rivalries.

Wazza, Mick, Maloney all battling against one another instead of working with one another - and Matchroom's Prizefighter and the odd Ally Pally show in the background.

One went off to Setanta, the other to ITV, the other was sacked off by sky alongside Ricky whom only had a brief stint.

Now if all the top fighters are with one promoter - and they are going to put them in with big names home and abroad, then I cannot see what issue anyone would have from a punter's point of view.

The shows are extremely regular, the fighters all seem well fed with paths to titles and opportunities - and no money grumbles or shows falling apart.

I wholeheartedly agree but, like I said above, I think big fight highlights should be shown on Freeview.

[expe]

It's not an ideal situation as there's not enough SKY dates to keep all the boxers busy enough to develop and improve. It's a shame that the business people involved are so greedy and hard headed they just cannot work together, none of them seem able to trust each other.

If he got rid of Prizefighter there'd be enough dates, but it's guaranteed profit so there's no chance of that happening.

[danamba7]

It's not an ideal situation as there's not enough SKY dates to keep all the boxers busy enough to develop and improve. It's a shame that the business people involved are so greedy and hard headed they just cannot work together, none of them seem able to trust each other.

If he got rid of Prizefighter there'd be enough dates, but it's guaranteed profit so there's no chance of that happening.

I'm sure he's mentioned getting rid of it recently, saying something like 'it might have had it's time...'

[palooka]

If the fighters are there to make a good Prizefighter then they ought to make it; they didn't ought to say.'Lets do a light heavyweight Prizefighter, lets round some bodies up'. It is a decent night and a good showcase for lesser known fighters; if it's a third of the boxing shown though it's too much.

[bripez]

maybe not great for Boxing at grass roots but then its up to fighters to earn the right to be up in the limelight,

I understand the theory, however in reality how is a novice pro - who isn't an Olympic medallist, or an established name - going to "earn the right" ?

By taking the cream of the top amateurs and top pro's, this leaves the other promoters in a situation whereby they may be reluctant to invest time and money into a boxer in case he jumps ship as soon as he starts to get recognition.

There again, on the other hand it may effectively force all other fighters to put on more competitive fights rather than protecting their own fighters and padding their records.

[Andrew]

Prizefighter has become a lot less frequent over the last 18 months and has given numerous younger fighters opportunities to get their career going and to showcase their ability and better purses.

As for Matchrooms monopoly. Eddie has been mentioning he wants more domestic fights to avoid the dissapointments of foreign fighters letting him down and the interest they can generate. Hope he keeps to his word.

[Flump]

If he makes the big matches then it's a good thing. Virtually all of the problems in failing to get the fights we want are down to short sighted and greedy promoters not giving up a piece of the pie to make the sort of fights that raise the profile of the sport.

Way back when Duff/Levine/Barrett controlled things the big domestic matches almost always got made but we'll see.

[expe]

It's not an ideal situation as there's not enough SKY dates to keep all the boxers busy enough to develop and improve. It's a shame that the business people involved are so greedy and hard headed they just cannot work together, none of them seem able to trust each other.

If he got rid of Prizefighter there'd be enough dates, but it's guaranteed profit so there's no chance of that happening.

I'm sure he's mentioned getting rid of it recently, saying something like 'it might have had it's time...'

While it's selling out, I can't see him getting rid of it. He comes from an accounting background, if it adds up financially, it'll stay.

Prize money
Winner - £32,000
Runner up - £16,000
Semi Finalists - £8,000 x2
Quarter Finalists - £4,000 x4
Total - £80,000

Plus the £2k knockout bonus, maximum of £94,000 in purses for the fighters, plus one or two other fights on the show, can't see it being more than £120k in total to pay the fighters. Plus the costs of putting the show on, staff, venue, ring etc, don't know how much that all costs, but I doubt it costs more than £150k to put the show on overall.

Then he has Sky TV money coming in, again, don't know how much, sold out York Hall - £40k minimum, plus sponsorship and advertising, it must be practically impossible to make a loss on Prizefighter, so he might as well keep it going.

[Taansend]

I have to say I think Eddie is great for British boxing.

I also felt the same when allegedly first came onto the scene to break up the Duff/Lawson monopoly.

And he became just like them. Hopefully Eddie won't do the same.

[zero]

It doesn’t really matter because promoters are hell bent on not working with each other. Broadcasters are the issue for siding with one promoter be it Sky with Matchroom or HBO with Top Rank. Whether we like it or not Broadcasters and promoters are in it for themselves “ what’s best for boxing” is nonsense.

[stevieb_8006]

I don't think monopoly's are ever a good thing really.

I feel that boxing seemed much more exciting under warren tbh. Bringing over Kessler, Lacy, Tsyzu, McClellen.... the naz era.....

And for all the criticisms of warrens cards, matchrooms seem equally as poor lately. But fwank seems to be a bit of a panto villain..... Eddie will eventually be the same but with a cheesy smile and affable persona.

[ajwesty13]

like any good business you always need a good rivalry to keep ya on your toes... i think someone needs to stepup and stop the monopoly just for the sake of grass roots....

[the truth]

Bad

[jameswilson]

I don't think monopoly's are ever a good thing really.

I feel that boxing seemed much more exciting under warren tbh. Bringing over Kessler, Lacy, Tsyzu, McClellen.... the naz era.....

You've named 5 fighters spanning almost 20 years there. Lets not make out that the majority of the Calzaghe, Hatton and Harrison bills were anything other than pish poor the vast majority of the time.

Calzaghe v Manfredo headlining with Enzo V Bobby Gunn as the chief support.

Yeah much more exciting.......

[dalcumly]

Bad for boxing - we always need competition. History shows it. Jack Solomons - National Promotions - F Warrn - now Matchroom. It always ends in tears when the 'new kids on the block' take over.

[stevieb_8006]

I don't think monopoly's are ever a good thing really.

I feel that boxing seemed much more exciting under warren tbh. Bringing over Kessler, Lacy, Tsyzu, McClellen.... the naz era.....

You've named 5 fighters spanning almost 20 years there. Lets not make out that the majority of the Calzaghe, Hatton and Harrison bills were anything other than pish poor the vast majority of the time.

Calzaghe v Manfredo headlining with Enzo V Bobby Gunn as the chief support.

Yeah much more exciting.......

well we'll see. Im not saying FW was amazing... but eddie wont be much better in the long run

[mullenman]

they are great for boxing and making the big fights
they have got boxing back to stadiums from small halls shows

Look what happend to frank W last night
average show and his average fighters got bet in from of average crowds

the matchroom shows are getting better