Eddie Hearn Reveals The Fights He Plans To Stage In 2023: 'The Aim Is Global Expansion'
Jan 5, 2023 • 6:22 AM ET
Matchroom Boxing staged 31 shows across nine countries in 2022.
Some of the biggest events of the year involved the United Kingdom-based promotional company. Among the highlights were:
- Canelo Alvarez's fights against Dmitry Bivol and Gennadiy Golovkin at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
- Bivol's unanimous win against Gilberto Ramirez in Abu Dhabi
- Oleksandr Usyk holding off Anthony Joshua in a rematch in Saudi Arabia
- Juan Francisco Estrada beating Roman Gonzalez in a trilogy in Phoenix
- Katie Taylor scoring a disputed decision win against Amanda Serrano at the sold out Madison Square Garden in New York
- Leigh Wood brutally knocking out Michael Conlan in a come-from-behind win in Nottingham
Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn recently recapped the year that was on his company's YouTube channel.
"I was actually hoping for 40 shows. I was a little disappointed,” said Hearn.
"The main ambition going into every year is to stay alive and keep breathing. We've got dreams and aspirations as a business and of course our fighters, and for the sport. The aim for 2022 is definitely global expansion. To continue to break new grounds in new territories. Of course, maintain our position in the UK as well. Push harder with bigger events in America and the Middle East and existing territories like Mexico, Italy, and Spain and break new territories like Australia.”
In a separate interview with Sporting News, Hearn revealed his wish list for the calendar year.
“Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury [is my No.1 wish for 2023]. It's maybe more important [than the belts for me], but [Joshua] also wants to become a three-time world heavyweight champion. There are so many fights I want to make.”
Hearn provided a sneak peek into some of the fights that could come to fruition. They include:
- Canelo Alvarez vs. Dmitry Bivol 2
- Canelo Alvarez vs. John Ryder
- Deontay Wilder vs. Dillian Whyte
- Juan Francisco Estrada vs. Roman Gonzalez 4
- Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 2
- Leigh Wood vs. Michael Conlan 2
- Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Sunny Edwards
- Jesse Rodriguez vs. Julio Cesar Martinez
- Callum Smith vs. Dmitry Bivol
- Joshua Buatsi vs. Callum Smith
- Felix Cash vs. Austin Williams
- Joe Cordina vs. Shavkat Rakhimov
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
