Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn talk about some recent news in the boxing world, including Shakur Stevenson’s recent signing with Zuffa, and Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn, which was just formally announced. Regarding the former, Hearn says Zuffa has paid so money to Shakur that they are in an unenviable position where they need to secure Devin Haney in order to make a fight worthy of their investment, which gives Haney all the leverage in negotiations. Here’s some of what he had to say below.
Hearn on Shakur signing with Zuffa
“People are
saying right now Devin Haney’s in no man’s land. I actually think Devin Haney is in a brilliant position because Devin Haney was going to sign with Zuffa — he probably still will, I don’t know what he’s up to. I know numbers they’re giving Shakur, great deal for Shakur. He gave up his legacy, but he’s got legacy, and now he’s got a great deal. Good for him.
“[Zuffa] really need him to fight Devin Haney because when you’re paying someone that much money, who are you going to put them in with? And the narrative that they bleed into fighters is so bizzare. Like you got Shakur up there talking about ‘the great thing about this deal is it’s the best vs the best and I can fight whoever I want.’ No you can’t. What are you talking about?
“You got loads of champions and big names on DAZN with other promoters, you can’t fight who you want. Now who else can you fight right now? Rayo Valenzuela? Good fight. But you’re going to pay Shakur that kind of money to fight Rayo Valenzuela?! They need Devin Haney. They need to make that fight.
“The problem with Devin and Bill is when they understand they have leverage, they a f-ckin’ hard work. So, good luck to Devin.”
On the Ryan Garcia vs Conor Benn fight
“[Zuffa] think they can do anything. They think they can interfere with fight contracts, with broadcast contracts. They expects Ryan Garcia against Conor Benn to be a Zuffa show on Paramount, that’s it, and Sky Sports, which is their other partner. It’s now a Ring card co-promoted by Oscar De La Hoya and Zuffa on DAZN and Paramount.
“It’s good for them because it’s incredibly humbling. It’s teaching them how boxing works. People don’t lay down…Now you got Oscar De La Hoya up there with Dana, c0-promoting. And by the way, I think that’s great for the fight. They should embrace that, but they can’t because they’re control freaks. And it’ll be eating them up so bad that it’s not even really their show, whereas it was supposed to be. They gave Conor Benn all that money to have the control to do that fight, now they’re doing it with Golden Boy.”
