There's been a lot of negativity flying around recently over the potential Brook stay busy fight, Khantards going in hard, framptons sycophants who don't understand the business of promoting.
I think it's important to step back and think when was the last time boxing was taken to Wembley stadium?
We are also seeing world title fight after world title fight involving British fighters on sky sports. This is incredible and beyond our wildest dreams five years ago.
Let's also not forget that before Eddie came along the PPV model was Khan vs. anyone and Haye vs anyone.
Look, Kell is the exception, all these other guys we've seen fed to world "champions" is laughable, Rose, Gavin the list just goes on and on. They were put up for a quick buck in a fight where they had less than a 0.1% chance to even come close to winning.
In terms of creating stars, AJ may be a real triumph but there's still a ways to go.
But like I said before, Matchroom have definitely done a good job, in parts a very good job, giving us Froch v Bute at a time when Ward didn't want any of Bute and the big Wembley show and some really decent dust ups on a domestic level but it's far from an incredible job. The years of boxing on ITV, where it was very much part of the national discussion was an incredible job but not what I've seen do far.
Brook, Joshua, Degale, and possibly Luke Campbell all look like fighters who will be able to compete on the world level, with likely other fighters in consideration more down the line.
I'm just pointing out that Matchroom Sport is getting them that opportunity. Like the old man says "if you're good enough, you can win anywhere".
Matchroom built Chris Eubank from scratch.
Big Bazza is not just boxing, but a sporting legend and a very inspirational man as I had the chance to watch his documentary.
I think it is obvious he was referring to Young Edward.
Matchroom sport has done good things for boxing but I wouldn't go so far as to call it incredible, what's incredible is ITV building Khan up into a household name, what's incredible is the rise of Ricky Hatton who became a must see WORLD attraction by his mid-20s.
Matchroom have not created a single star from scratch, they've splashed money around and bought solidifed stars or bright young things. We'll see how things go with AJ and charisma vacuum Campbell.
In terms of world title fights, I'd rather not have them if all we're getting are old or c level fighters getting thrown into the lions den to earn a quick buck. How many of these title fights have been successful or featured competitive match ups?
Matchroom built Chris Eubank from scratch.
If Anthony Joshua proves to be as good as he looks to be, Matchroom has that "built from scratch" star that you're lamenting about (I honestly see Klitschko hanging the gloves up without attempting to unify and Wilder(WBC), Fury(IBF), Joshua(WBA) and Povetkin(WBO) emerging as champions, fighting in their own universes for a while, before unification talk begins to pick up 2017/2018)
From the outside looking in Matchroon Sport has put British boxing into a position where their best fighters earnestly have the opportunity to see how good they are on the world level; not everyone is going to be good enough, but the ones that are have the world at their feet (with the ones a step below still having a thriving domestic market to ply their trade in).
Just look at Kell Brook; phenomenal talent, but the work that Matchroom Sport has done has his fights featured in UK, shown throughout Germany/Europe, and has given him the opportunity to build his name/profile in the US (with likely residual effects in Canada/Mexico). He keeps up the winning (wins the May 30th fight) and he's got the chance to truly be an international star.
Name another European promoter that has the reach to have their fighters go as far as their talent and ability can take them.
Look, Kell is the exception, all these other guys we've seen fed to world "champions" is laughable, Rose, Gavin the list just goes on and on. They were put up for a quick buck in a fight where they had less than a 0.1% chance to even come close to winning.
In terms of creating stars, AJ may be a real triumph but there's still a ways to go.
But like I said before, Matchroom have definitely done a good job, in parts a very good job, giving us Froch v Bute at a time when Ward didn't want any of Bute and the big Wembley show and some really decent dust ups on a domestic level but it's far from an incredible job. The years of boxing on ITV, where it was very much part of the national discussion was an incredible job but not what I've seen do far.
I'm with most of you guys in not being all that impressed with what Matchroom has done. You have to remember that Sky have basically handed their entire boxing budget to Matchroom and gone as far as using other Sky channels & programs including Sky Sports News, Soccer AM & Sky 1 to promote Matchroom fighters.
What we're seeing is a desire to milk the audience. They probably have a plan to put a predetermined number of PPV's out per year and are gonna make fights PPV to fulfil that quota whether the main fight is worth it or not. I understand the need for boxing fans to pay for content for the sport to remain sustainable but I'm a much bigger fan of box nation that Sky's boxing coverage.
For £10 I get all the big fights Boxnation can put on in a month. With PBC's introduction and everyone else seeming to step their game up, there's good fights on nearly every week now. the £10 is well worth paying. ITV's free coverage supplements that. Atm it just seems Sky's overly focused on manufacturing and selling 'domestic rivalries' even when there are better fights to be made. If its not that then they're padding their fighters' records, hardly any must watch fights on there!
This^^^
Boxnation is where its at.
Frank Warren & Mick Hennessey are the best promoters in the UK. Hennessey knows fighters. Froch, Fury & Galahad...real fighters.
Hearn hasn't a clue about boxing, he can only pinch established fighters. Joshua was in demand. Let's see Hearn make a Hatton, Naz, Froch or Fury...its not happening
I'm with most of you guys in not being all that impressed with what Matchroom has done. You have to remember that Sky have basically handed their entire boxing budget to Matchroom and gone as far as using other Sky channels & programs including Sky Sports News, Soccer AM & Sky 1 to promote Matchroom fighters.
What we're seeing is a desire to milk the audience. They probably have a plan to put a predetermined number of PPV's out per year and are gonna make fights PPV to fulfil that quota whether the main fight is worth it or not. I understand the need for boxing fans to pay for content for the sport to remain sustainable but I'm a much bigger fan of box nation that Sky's boxing coverage.
For £10 I get all the big fights Boxnation can put on in a month. With PBC's introduction and everyone else seeming to step their game up, there's good fights on nearly every week now. the £10 is well worth paying. ITV's free coverage supplements that. Atm it just seems Sky's overly focused on manufacturing and selling 'domestic rivalries' even when there are better fights to be made. If its not that then they're padding their fighters' records, hardly any must watch fights on there!
Matchroom have done wonders for British boxing and fans shouldn't forget that. I agree with what Eddie says when he said everyone is upping their game to try and compete thus making bigger and better events.
Matchroom have had some appalling cards recently though, but as does every promoter.
I think they've been bang average to be honest. Some great shows and fights, and some diabolical ones.
I don't think Matchroom have done much that other promoters wouldn't have done with the platform they have.
All their good fights are PPV.
Their regular shows have been shïte for the best part of 15 months.
Eddie Hearn's model of building every half decent fight as a PPV fight is wearing very, very thin.
Take a look at his card this weekend? It's a bag of wänk. He's apparently got the biggest stable of a-list fighters, which he's happy to remind everyone of. But judging by his regular shows, you wouldn't know it.
Matchroom played a part in keeping Boxing alive in the UK until the Boxnation era which has brought better quality, more competitive global fights to the UK TV audience.
Most of the recent Matchroom cards have been ridiculously stacked and almost exhibition type stuff - despite huge hype.
The Cleverly / Bellew fight was a new low point (for me). If that is the future of PPV then were are in serious trouble.
Matchroom sport has done good things for boxing but I wouldn't go so far as to call it incredible, what's incredible is ITV building Khan up into a household name, what's incredible is the rise of Ricky Hatton who became a must see WORLD attraction by his mid-20s.
Matchroom have not created a single star from scratch, they've splashed money around and bought solidifed stars or bright young things. We'll see how things go with AJ and charisma vacuum Campbell.
In terms of world title fights, I'd rather not have them if all we're getting are old or c level fighters getting thrown into the lions den to earn a quick buck. How many of these title fights have been successful or featured competitive match ups?
That Sheffield undercard lmao.
There's been a lot of negativity flying around recently over the potential Brook stay busy fight, Khantards going in hard, framptons sycophants who don't understand the business of promoting.
I think it's important to step back and think when was the last time boxing was taken to Wembley stadium?
We are also seeing world title fight after world title fight involving British fighters on sky sports. This is incredible and beyond our wildest dreams five years ago.
Let's also not forget that before Eddie came along the PPV model was Khan vs. anyone and Haye vs anyone.
and now its Bellew-Cleverly 2 and Haye-Harrison.
Taking soulsurvivor's point, we'll see how many or how well they develop a star from scratch. They got the resources and talent, so let's see.
Matchroom sport has done good things for boxing but I wouldn't go so far as to call it incredible, what's incredible is ITV building Khan up into a household name, what's incredible is the rise of Ricky Hatton who became a must see WORLD attraction by his mid-20s.
Matchroom have not created a single star from scratch, they've splashed money around and bought solidifed stars or bright young things. We'll see how things go with AJ and charisma vacuum Campbell.
In terms of world title fights, I'd rather not have them if all we're getting are old or c level fighters getting thrown into the lions den to earn a quick buck. How many of these title fights have been successful or featured competitive match ups?
If Anthony Joshua proves to be as good as he looks to be, Matchroom has that "built from scratch" star that you're lamenting about (I honestly see Klitschko hanging the gloves up without attempting to unify and Wilder(WBC), Fury(IBF), Joshua(WBA) and Povetkin(WBO) emerging as champions, fighting in their own universes for a while, before unification talk begins to pick up 2017/2018)
From the outside looking in Matchroon Sport has put British boxing into a position where their best fighters earnestly have the opportunity to see how good they are on the world level; not everyone is going to be good enough, but the ones that are have the world at their feet (with the ones a step below still having a thriving domestic market to ply their trade in).
Just look at Kell Brook; phenomenal talent, but the work that Matchroom Sport has done has his fights featured in UK, shown throughout Germany/Europe, and has given him the opportunity to build his name/profile in the US (with likely residual effects in Canada/Mexico). He keeps up the winning (wins the May 30th fight) and he's got the chance to truly be an international star.
Name another European promoter that has the reach to have their fighters go as far as their talent and ability can take them.
There's been a lot of negativity flying around recently over the potential Brook stay busy fight, Khantards going in hard, framptons sycophants who don't understand the business of promoting.
I think it's important to step back and think when was the last time boxing was taken to Wembley stadium?
We are also seeing world title fight after world title fight involving British fighters on sky sports. This is incredible and beyond our wildest dreams five years ago.
Let's also not forget that before Eddie came along the PPV model was Khan vs. anyone and Haye vs anyone.
Matchroom sport has done good things for boxing but I wouldn't go so far as to call it incredible, what's incredible is ITV building Khan up into a household name, what's incredible is the rise of Ricky Hatton who became a must see WORLD attraction by his mid-20s.
Matchroom have not created a single star from scratch, they've splashed money around and bought solidifed stars or bright young things. We'll see how things go with AJ and charisma vacuum Campbell.
In terms of world title fights, I'd rather not have them if all we're getting are old or c level fighters getting thrown into the lions den to earn a quick buck. How many of these title fights have been successful or featured competitive match ups?