Just a thought. Has the Saudi money started the death throes for British boxing ? Yes we’re seeing some good fights being made but every potential arena headliner in the UK is now being played out to hundreds of empty seats over there. Boxxer are surely going to get ditched by Sky next year ( they are hardly on there at all even now) possibly leading to Sky exiting the business. His excellency wants everyone to be broadcast on DAZN so look to Frank to join Hearn next summer. Money talks and I think Warren and TNT would have done a deal by now if he was staying. That means no traditional broadcasters will be showing boxing from mid 2025. This, coupled with the Saudi oil money, will mean more and more quarter filled venues in the UK. Boxing will be completely reliant on his excellency and if he gets fed up, what’s left ? I imagine the UK will be like Germany and Italy. Small hall shows scrambling around for a few TV/Internet pennies. The strength of our sport was alway the domestic game, the Lonsdale belt and popular fighters crossing over and becoming huge ticket sellers, fighting in front of big crowds with great atmospheres. It’s all being thrown away by incredibly short termism . I hope I’m wrong.
I think potentially the opposite, I see Eddie and Frank being desperate to stay on the gravy train and the only way to do so is finding the next stars. I may be totally wrong who knows. That's my big thing with Shalom he has done an incredibly bad job with Sky who if you get it right are the place to be
The Butt Licking is everywhere and Hearn made sure his tongue remained brown by retweeting this post. This content is protected
UK boxing is at a cross roads that is for sure. the standard of card in the UK also doesn’t help make people want to go and buy a ticket. If the Saudi bubble bursts it’ll probably revive it but right now all the boxers and promotors want the Saudi cash. basically Saudi is the new America.
At least the best are now finally fighting the best in Saudi. There's been some great fights there, like this weekend. But you can't beat the UK atmosphere, Saudi really lacks in atmosphere.
