Boxxer’s founder and chairman, Ben Shalom, made an impromptu public appearance during the introductory press conference for the domestic bout between Joshua Buatsi and Dan Azeez, scheduled for August 14th. This highly anticipated match is set to take place at the O2 Arena in London on October 21st.
Following the recent purse bids controversy involving Richard Riakporhe (16-0, 12 KO’s), Ben Shalom appears to be deflecting accountability and resorting to blaming rival promoter Eddie Hearn, a tactic reminiscent of British promoter Frank Warren. Warren has also shifted attention towards Anthony Joshua (26-3, 23 KO’s) and Eddie Hearn to distance himself from the Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou exhibition bout he arranged.
Shalom expressed his frustrations to Seconds Out, stating, “Every time we’ve sought a fight – whether Eubank-Smith, Buatsi-Azeez, Riakporhe-Opetaia – there’s been a promotional company that tries to interfere or disrupt the process.” Although he did not directly name the “promotional company,” it is understood to refer to Matchroom, headed by Eddie Hearn. Boxxer and Matchroom have shared a contentious relationship, marked by public criticism from their respective chairmen.
A potential cause of tension could be Boxxer’s success in luring several fighters, including Lawrence Okolie (19-1, 14 KO’s) and Joshua Buatsi (17-0, 13 KO’s), away from Matchroom.
While Shalom mentioned that issues and obstacles have arisen in various fights, he provided limited clarity due to inaudible portions of his statement. He went on to explain an incident involving Matchroom’s purported interference in negotiations with Jai Opetaia’s (22-0, 17 KO’s) manager, Mick Francis.
Shalom elaborated on how negotiations unfolded, stating, “We negotiated with Mick Francis, and we were offered a deal to fight in Australia. We inquired about proof of funds and the venue in Queensland. Despite our requests, this information was not provided. Even after Matchroom signed Jai Opetaia, his manager contacted us, stating they had not officially signed. We engaged in discussions and provided an offer, but the process remained ambiguous. Richard [Riakporhe] signed agreements for two agreed-upon dates, yet neither materialized.“
While Shalom appears to attribute certain issues to Matchroom’s influence, concrete evidence is lacking. Notably, some of the mentioned fights, such as Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Liam Smith, involved different promoters. The Eubank-Smith match was between Sauerland Promotions and Boxxer, and Matchroom’s role in the delays is debatable.
Shalom also asserted that Matchroom attempted to interfere with the Buatsi-Azeez fight, although both fighters are under Boxxer’s banner.
The purse bids controversy involving Richard Riakporhe and Jai Opetaia saw Boxxer withdraw Riakporhe due to concerns about Matchroom’s influence through Opetaia’s manager, Mick Francis. While it is plausible that Matchroom might employ such tactics in the often murky boxing industry, attributing deliberate sabotage to Matchroom in Opetaia’s case remains speculative.
Without conclusive evidence, Ben Shalom’s claims could be interpreted as conspiracy theories, especially considering his sudden focus on Matchroom’s involvement. Notably, his claims emerged only recently, in contrast to his initial reaction during the Frazer Clarke vs. Fabio Wardley purse bids fiasco, where Matchroom was not initially implicated.
Shalom’s attempts to shift blame primarily onto Matchroom suggest a promoter grappling with challenges and seeking an external scapegoat. Throughout the interview, Shalom refrained from taking accountability, instead crafting a narrative that largely places blame on Matchroom.
Additionally, purse bids are independent auctions organized by the main sanctioning bodies, in this case, the International Boxing Federation (IBF). According to Riakporhe’s statement, it was his own decision to withdraw from these purse bids, although he may have been pressured to do so by Boxxer. Matchroom was not responsible for Riakporhe’s decision to pull out of a world title fight.
As highlighted in our recent article about Boxxer, the promotion is still trying to establish itself in the industry. It should be regarded as such, rather than assuming it holds a similar level of experience as more established promotions like Queensberry and Matchroom.
