Eddie Hearn is not afraid of the potential TKO boxing of boxing: “These guys will not be able to lace my boots”

Made by Turki Alashikh, the CEO of the UFC Dana White and the president of WWE Nick Khan, TKO announced its entry into the boxing market in early MarchHowever, we still know little about their plans other than their probable roles as main promoters for the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez against Terence Crawford in September.

Although some consider TKO as a major threat to traditional boxing promoters, Eddie Hearn de Matchroom has a different vision.

“I think Dana entering boxing will be brilliant for boxing,” Hearn told UNCENWED during A studio appearance on “The Ariel Helwani Show” Tuesday.

“If you argue – these guys, in my opinion, will not be able to lace my boots in the promotion of boxing. As a business, as an organization, as (The) UFC – incredible. But it is different. When you fall asleep as a boxing promoter (and) you wake up in the morning, nothing is the same.

“If you think you are going to control this world, that's what they really did in MMA – and I think it's a similar model that they will try to box – I don't think it is possible.

“It's going to be interesting to see how everything is positioned,” said Hearn. “I don't really think that it will still infiltrate the world of boxing. I think they will enter, create this league, of young prospects, some guys who are ready for the 50 to 50 years and the guys who (are at this level). We had a situation the other day when we had a fight that was fourth on the map, and it was a Butant B, and they said” I am not available for this fight because I am reported with TKO. “And I'm like, with all the respect I owe you, I don't want to be rude, 'you?!' “”

Hearn reiterated his conviction that the initial plans of TKO in boxing will focus on the less known fighters, which would be cheaper and which may have more control in terms of matchmaking.

With the release of boxing showtime and the end of subsequent shobox, as well as the disappearance of competing tournaments of television networks in the United States, there was a gap in the boxing market for a series of development. Proboxtv tried to fill this void but is unable to build the profiles of the fighters also successfully without a major network behind them.

TKO could fill this vacancy with a “league” format involving younger fighters, mainly building stars from bottom to top.

Hearn, however, is doubtful to know if TKO will succeed in monopolizing the short -term boxing market, pointing to the competition and the fragmented nature of sport as potential obstacles.

“Dana is a great guy. He is very intelligent, the company (UFC) is an incredible company,” said Hearn. “They will not come and fail, in my opinion. But it's just the size of what they do and realize that will be very interesting. I'm going to be honest, I don't really fear it.

“No matter who is involved. You have to come and beat the system (and beat) the opposition. If you think people like me, people like Bob Arum (Golden Boy) Frank Warren will return and go”

In a largely controversial decision, TKO began to deal with amendments to the Muhammad Ali Act, which was designed to protect boxers from exploitation. Although it is not clear what other specific amendments are discussed, TKO seeks to fight for boxers for TKO belts rather than for WBA, WBC, WBC and IBF belts mainly used in professional boxing.

“The Ali law is designed to defend the fighter and protect the fighter,” said Hearn. “So, if there will be variations in this and a kind of strategy to delete or modify it, for me, it is something where a fighter would go:” Hang on, the Ali is there to protect me. Why do you want to change it? “”

One of TKO's biggest obstacles in boxing, according to Hearn, will be the counterpoupou of athletes in the other sports properties of TKO – the UFC of White and the WWE of Khan – when they become aware of the quantity of society that pays boxers who deliver figures compared to themselves similar.

In recent years, an approximate total of 18.6% of UFC events were paid to combatantsDuring boxing, these figures can often be returned in the other direction.

“If they promote 'Canelo'-Crawford, the combined value of these east handbags, call it, between 120 (million dollars) and $ 150 million,” said Hearn.

“If you come over that and are promoting, and this fight is a million and a half (pay-per-view) or anything, does that mean when a UFC fighter is a million and a half, they will also win $ 100 million?”

Chris Eubank Jr. against Conor Benn 2

Revenge Chris Eubank Jr. against Conor Benn is scheduled for the end of September at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, confirmed on Tuesday.

Eubank won a unanimous competitive decision (116-112, 116-112, 116-112) on Benn In a combat competitor of the year in front of a closed window crowds of 67,484 at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium last Saturday.

Eubank and Benn produced a slugfest that British boxing will never forgetwith their fathers – Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, who themselves shared the ring twice in the 1990s for two historic fights – Look at the ring. The event was a major success for sport across the pond.

“Very close (to 1 million à la carte purchases in the United Kingdom),” said Hearn about Eubank against Benn. “They will take a while to sink it – much over a million in the world. Dazn has done very well.”

Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn may have staged the fight of the year. (Mark Robinson / Getty Images).

(Mark Robinson via Getty Images)

Eubank has missed weight for the combat of 0.05 pounds and appeared drained on the balance with official weighing and later during the ceremonial weighing. The British boxer was also taken to the hospital in the aftermath of the brutal struggle for precautionary checks, which led some to believe that Eubank exceeded the average weight division of 160 pounds.

Despite this, Hearn told an ENCNW that an Eubank revenge against Benn was signed to be disputed at 160 pounds with a rehydration clause of 10 pounds – the same terms as their first fight.

Benn what the antagonist throughout the construction and the evening of the fightBut even some of Benn's greatest detractors have since expressed their respect for its grainy performance against the much larger Eubank.

“He never stopped trying to win the fight, and that's what fans like,” said Hearn about Benn. “He did not try to survive and hold, he tried to bring down Eubank in (rounds) 11 and 12, while he was taking a little beat in these rounds. Fathers, accumulation, the moment – it was like the biggest fight I have ever seen.

“Conor Benn trains harder than any fighter I have never met, and the guy grew up in a mansion. Junior wanted it to have bad, and he grew up in this (same) kind of environment. Do not underestimate the one with fire in their hearts. What you saw on Saturday – it is quite surprising to see two children of this (privileged) fight.

Anthony Joshua against Tyson Fury

The day after the after Eubank and Benn, British fans are fighting for the ages, the news announced that the unat -disputed heavyweight championship should be disputed for the first time in British soil in the era with four belts when Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois unify the titles on July 19 At the Wembley stadium in London.

All signs indicate that 2025 being a vintage year for sport in the United Kingdom, but Hearn still hopes that the largest of them will not yet be to come. Despite Tyson Fury's last retreat from boxing, Hearn has not lost hope of seeing Fury face Anthony Joshua some time later this year.

London, England - September 21: Anthony Joshua looks after losing against Daniel Dubois in their IBF heavyweight title fight as part of the Riyadh - Wembley Edition Card season at the Wembley stadium on September 21, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing / Getty Images) — Anthony Joshua fought for the last time in September against Daniel Dubois. (Mark Robinson / Match bo Boxing / Getty Images)

(Mark Robinson via Getty Images)

“It comes down to Tyson Fury who probably tries to AJ,” said Hearn. “When you have two guys of this level, I think that sometimes it's just a little DM saying:” Do you want this? “”

Famous, the long -term negotiations between Terence Crawford and Errol Spence made significant progress when the pair spoke directly on the phone in May 2023. Crawford and Spence ended up fighting in July of the same year.

“AJ had a little injury to whom he was dealing, so we don't like ourselves a little rushing over the ring,” said Hearn. “He will fight this year, but at the same time, AJ had somewhere between one and three fights.

“For me, I think that sooner or later, Fury Ira (becoming printed). I think Fury is the kind of guy who would have watched on Saturday (Eubank against Benn) and left, 'Woah, let's do it.' 'As large as Eubank-Benn, Fury-AJ is right (another level).

Source Link