Eddie Hearn Interview

[Maximus Decimus]

 

About 19 minutes in he's asked about RL and Matchroom's involvement. His reply is that 'we're talking.' 

Makes a couple of interesting observations, he describes the game as 'on its knees' which sadly is hard to disagree with but he also mentions that he thinks the salary cap is a problem. This is linked to a wider point about there being no household names. 

Finally, he says that a bigger problem is that the RFL and SL aren't on the same page. No surprises there. 

[Wellsy4HullFC]

Wish he'd hurry up and get involved. Can't be anywhere near as bad as what we've got now.

[Man of Kent]

Interesting snippet. He’s clearly given it deep thought but I suspect he realises Super League is really the only show in town and that’s above Rimmer’s - and therefore Hearns’ - pay grade.

[Evil Homer]

He should be involved in promotions, the presentation of the sport and overseeing the TV product, which RL desperately desperately needs. Not 'running the game' like some idiots seem to want.

[The Future is League]

13 minutes ago, Evil Homer said:

He should be involved in promotions, the presentation of the sport and overseeing the TV product, which RL desperately desperately needs. Not 'running the game' like some idiots seem to want.

I don't think he wants to actually run the game, but like you say promotions, presentation and the TV product. I would think magic weekend, Challenge cup and even perhaps big bash weekend. We are a rudderless ship at the moment and have been for some time

[Mr Wind Up]

Doesnt matter how much someone is paid, it’s the media (and overall popularity of sport) that turns players into household names. Paying someone more money isnt going to change that.

[The Future is League]

15 minutes ago, Mr Wind Up said:

Doesnt matter how much someone is paid, it’s the media (and overall popularity of sport) that turns players into household names. Paying someone more money isnt going to change that.

Perhaps initially his name and matchroom's involvement with Rugby League would attract some media interest and newspaper column inches, just saying.

[Evil Homer]

4 hours ago, Mr Wind Up said:

Doesnt matter how much someone is paid, it’s the media (and overall popularity of sport) that turns players into household names. Paying someone more money isnt going to change that.

That's right, we need someone to change the media's perception and particularly that of Sky Sports who currently seem to view RL as their redheaded stepchild and treat and promote it as such.

[gingerjon]

8 hours ago, Wellsy4HullFC said:

Wish he'd hurry up and get involved. Can't be anywhere near as bad as what we've got now.

*The monkey's paw twists* ...

[Dave T]

I've made the point before. He is a negotiator. Give him the England RL setup for a couple of years, let him organise the events, negotiate with the Aussies, set up games with Tonga etc. That is closest to his boxing setup.

[Man of Kent]

Just now, Dave T said:

I've made the point before. He is a negotiator. Give him the England RL setup for a couple of years, let him organise the events, negotiate with the Aussies, set up games with Tonga etc. That is closest to his boxing setup.

Good idea re Hearns and England.

Hire Wembley, Old Trafford and St James Park and let him promote the Kangaroos tour. 

[Southerner80]

6 minutes ago, scotchy1 said:

Ive said this before when people talk about Hearn, you can't hive off one area off the game for him. It wont work. The problems he has identified with the game are problems that can't be solved in isolation.

Agree. The matchroom approach in boxing, darts and snooker is to run the show 

While I think there are some things uniquely different about RL, I do feel the Hearns know what they are doing And Would be able to deliver big gates for internationals ie 60k in London, 40k in Leeds, 24k in Wigan, 40k in Manchester or Liverpool and sell out the CCF. 

Further they would elevate the media profile of the sport and add a much needed Glamour factor. They would probably get Gigot And Connor In Mens Health magazine and GQ... Ie Gigot the best French sports man you have never heard of would be the sort of thing they would lead with and of course, he will look pretty good on a fashion shoot as has a Gallic Flair about him... Connor is a Lad, however unlike Zak doesn't step over the line so is very marketable too. There's many others as well.. 

[Fev1983]

12 hours ago, Maximus Decimus said:

 

About 19 minutes in he's asked about RL and Matchroom's involvement. His reply is that 'we're talking.' 

Makes a couple of interesting observations, he describes the game as 'on its knees' which sadly is hard to disagree with but he also mentions that he thinks the salary cap is a problem. This is linked to a wider point about there being no household names. 

Finally, he says that a bigger problem is that the RFL and SL aren't on the same page. No surprises there. 

Why would he want to get involved? 5 years of pain to make a few million when he does that with every major bout he promotes.

[Adelaide Tiger]

10 hours ago, Mr Wind Up said:

Doesnt matter how much someone is paid, it’s the media (and overall popularity of sport) that turns players into household names. Paying someone more money isnt going to change that.

I hope that the above is a genuine conment and not a wind up, Mr Wind Up!

Our current leaders have proved time and time again their inability to turn players into household names.  IMHO the game lacks someone that has the neccessary contacts and skill to use the media to upsell the game and its players.  Hearns does this on a regular basis and no doubt - as the astute businessman he is - will put together a deal that suits him and the game.

[Southerner80]

33 minutes ago, Fev1983 said:

Why would he want to get involved? 5 years of pain to make a few million when he does that with every major bout he promotes.

A bit of Ego and a bit of a desire to always make money... That's my view. I mean face it Theres alot of kudos for making darts do well And if he could do the same for us he's a legend in the North.... You don't get that same sort of rub from Boxing which is a far far easier sell.... 

[Dave T]

1 hour ago, scotchy1 said:

Ive said this before when people talk about Hearn, you can't hive off one area off the game for him. It wont work. The problems he has identified with the game are problems that can't be solved in isolation.

I've only ever really heard him say that he has never heard of the players.

[redjonn]

Maybe RL administrators courting or being courted should speak to Frank Warren and his unflattering thoughts on Eddie Hearn... as per the Times.

[Dave T]

2 minutes ago, redjonn said:

Maybe RL administrators courting or being courted should speak to Frank Warren and his unflattering thoughts on Eddie Hearn... as per the Times.

What was he saying redjonn?

[redjonn]

2 minutes ago, Dave T said:

What was he saying redjonn?

Basically 

Whilst he has never talked to Eddie Hearn, but was furious with Eddie Hearns comments for saying negative stuff about the promotion of the recent Fury boxing match. All which turned out to be wrong in that it was highly successful promotion.

Warrens put down being "That if he was Eddie's dad I'd slap him down.... People need to hear this, and its on the record, Its Eddies Hearns father, Barry Hearn, who runs the business. The kid just go's off talking rubbish. He has an ego which is awful."

All sounds a little childish and the article is more about the recent Fury fight for whom Warren is the promoter. ... but above was his comments within the article about Eddie. Anyway as I say the article/written piece is much longer and about the success of the fight and its promotion.

Anyway no doubt inner boxing promoters ego's it doesn't paint such a great picture of "Eddie the son" and hence maybe he may not be the great savior for RL... but whether to take any notice is for others. 

[Wakefield Ram]

Has grass roots involvement in darts and boxing increased? Involve Barry Hearn in promoting internationals by all means but he's not the man to run the game.

[saddleworth]

I would hazard a guess that the SL supremo's would love Hearn to become involved, more so with regard to his comments about the salary cap. Being an old cynic, I think that he would  concentrate his efforts towards the top rankers with everyone else having to make their own way. To put it bluntly, wherever there are pound signs he's not far distance. I just do not trust the man. Boxing is rapidly developing into a shambles with programmes being filled out with ageing journeymen. Lads contesting for main titles after having about six contests the bulk of them under the umbrella of Hearn.  

[bbfaz]

There's a big element of jealousy and bitterness to Frank's views on Eddie and he has some reason to feel that way.  Financially, Frank is in a pickle.  He was successfully sued by solicitors for unpaid fees after a successful libel action against Ricky Burns and his manager led to no money being recovered due to the respondents declaring bankruptcy.  Last month, he was served with a winding-up petition from HMRC over unpaid taxes.

Eddie Hearn does a lot of video interviews with Youtubers and had a discussion about Wilder and Fury.   At that point, they had only sold 8,000 seats, there were still question marks over Fury making the fight and the view was that Fury would try to niggle his way to victory.  Nothing was said that wasn't true or, at least, the general suspicion of most boxing insiders.  Eddie then stuck the boot in and said something like "and Frank's even going bankrupt".   Frank has every right to feel affronted, especially given that the US is a last minute "walk-up" market, especially in the South West (and Eddie knows that) and that Fury was training hard in Big Bear at that point.

However, a lot of what Frank says comes from a place of anger and more than a hint of jealousy, which is why what he says has to be taken with a pinch of salt.  Given how Frank Warren ran the careers of Hatton, Calzaghe and Maccarinelli and how the former two felt they had to leave Frank to get the big fights that would secure their legacy as fighters, it's a massive cheek to criticise Eddie and Anthony Joshua. They've put together as many big fights as it was possible to make but, realistically, the only one they haven't put together was Deontay Wilder because he wanted retirement money.

This is also why he's picked up a number of top 20 heavyweights with potential, like Jarrell "Big Baby" Miller and Dillian Whyte, former rival and opponent of Joshua who has quietly turned himself into a title contender.  When the next big fight comes along, he can make it.  And to be fair to Eddie, he's been called a lot of things but all these fighters want to sign for him because he makes sure they get paid more and he's transparent with the money.   All you need to do as a fighter is get ready to fight and help promote yourself.  I look at Carl Froch, a wonderful super middleweight with knockout power who was signed to the Hennesseys but basically self-promoting when he signed with Matchroom.  Eddie put him in Wembley Stadium for the biggest post-war attendance.

Let's not listen to a bitter old man whose hair has been ruffled a bit too hard.

[westlondonfan]

A very interesting interview I thought. I don’t think he is going to be interested in just promoting a few internationals though. What would be in it for him in that? I guess he would want to tap into the main sources of rl funding in some way.

He is right though that for the casual sports fan there are no household names in rugby league at the moment.

[GUBRATS]

33 minutes ago, westlondonfan said:

A very interesting interview I thought. I don’t think he is going to be interested in just promoting a few internationals though. What would be in it for him in that? I guess he would want to tap into the main sources of rl funding in some way.

He is right though that for the casual sports fan there are no household names in rugby league at the moment.

That is something he still would not be able to address , it is via International competition that the wider population become awere of individual sportspersons , we just dont have that , so unless he's suddenly going to find another 4/5 top tier RL nations , it isnt happening

[Maximus Decimus]

3 hours ago, redjonn said:

Basically 

Whilst he has never talked to Eddie Hearn, but was furious with Eddie Hearns comments for saying negative stuff about the promotion of the recent Fury boxing match. All which turned out to be wrong in that it was highly successful promotion.

Warrens put down being "That if he was Eddie's dad I'd slap him down.... People need to hear this, and its on the record, Its Eddies Hearns father, Barry Hearn, who runs the business. The kid just go's off talking rubbish. He has an ego which is awful."

All sounds a little childish and the article is more about the recent Fury fight for whom Warren is the promoter. ... but above was his comments within the article about Eddie. Anyway as I say the article/written piece is much longer and about the success of the fight and its promotion.

Anyway no doubt inner boxing promoters ego's it doesn't paint such a great picture of "Eddie the son" and hence maybe he may not be the great savior for RL... but whether to take any notice is for others. 

I wouldn't believe a word Frank Warren says I really wouldn't. He's jealous as hell of Hearn's success. 

If you want to compare the two, compare how many fighters have sued them after being involved with them. Hearn has an impeccable record with his fighters.

In the above interview, he also addresses the role his dad has and how he wants nothing to do with the boxing.