Matchroom CEO Eddie Hearn and Golden Boy Promotions founder Oscar De La Hoya spared nothing in exchanging a bunch of insults on Twitter, but seem to have forgotten they work with the same network; DAZN. Their beef seems to stem from Eddie Hearn suggesting Jaime Munguia as Edgar Berlanga’s next opponent following Berlanga’s win over Jason Quigley on June 24th.
A fight between Edgar Berlanga (21-0, 16 KO’s) and Jaime Munguia (42-0, 33 KO’s) would be the most logical step for both, considering they are in the same division, around the same age and undefeated. Additionally, although they are contracted to different promotions, they both fight under the same network, DAZN, which is aligned with multiple promotions, including Matchroom (to which Berlanga is signed) and Golden Boy Promotions (Munguia’s employer).
Despite Matchroom and Golden Boy Promotions being virtual partners to one another due to their deal with DAZN, Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya have put DAZN’s model of partnerships with different promoters in jeopardy following their latest quarrel on Twitter (though it should be noted that these two promoters have been in conflict with each other for years).
“#lonesomeEddie you couldn’t deliver @EdgarBerlangaJr to Canelo and now your throwing Munguías name? Good luck.” Oscar De La Hoya Tweeted following Eddie Hearn publicly considerng Gennady Golovkin and Jaime Munguia as future opponents for Edgar Berlanga.
“I think it’s a great fight for the fans but I’ll speak to your bosses at @DAZNBoxing and we will come back to you,” Came Eddie Hearn’s reply.
“It has nothing to do with @DAZNBoxing you have no fighters to work with,” De La Hoya responded.
With both Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya contracted with DAZN, both promoters would have something to gain from a cross-promotional fight between Edgar Berlanga and Oscar De La Hoya and arranging such a fight should not be difficult in the slightest.
Rather than taking advantage of the opportunity, the two promoters instead continued their spat on social media, hurling insults at each other, which was unbecoming of experienced and accomplished promoters like them.
The situation between the promoters suggests that DAZN is facing an ordeal, especially following Canelo Alvarez’s (59-2-2, 39 KO’s) departure from DAZN to the PBC. Alvarez, who is one of the most recognizable boxers in the world, had worked with DAZN for 5 years since signing with them in 2018.
During that period, Alvarez also signed a multi-fight deal with Matchroom that would see him fight three bouts for the British-based company. Golden Boy Promotions was also employed by Canelo Alvarez during his period with DAZN, though this relationship noticeably broke off once Alvarez signed with Matchroom.
After his five-year deal with DAZN expired, Alvarez opted to fight with the PBC where he is preparing himself for potential blockbuster bouts with recognizable boxers including Jermall Charlo (32-0, 22 KO’s) and David Benavidez (27-0, 23 KO’s), both of whom he has been linked to fighting for several years.
Overall, the altercation between Eddie Hearn and Oscar De La Hoya reflects a somber mood for DAZN, which recently lost its star fighter in Canelo Alvarez. Two promoters who are essentially on the same team fighting does nothing to help their predicament, especially considering both Hearn and De La Hoya seem to be unwilling to work with each other further.
