Hearn has been on a mad signing spree of big name boxers and US fighters in recent times.
Devin Haney, one of the emerging young stars and champions in the sport — picked up on something that Hearn does more than other promoters.
Speaking on X reacting to Hearn getting emotional cheering on one of his fighters while watching him on television Haney said:
“This is how every promoter should b.. that is what separates Eddie from the rest.. he is hands on”
Hearn has been critical to some managers in the past, and promoters and managers are very different, sure.
However Hearn almost acts as a manager himself sometimes — even though his job is to market the event and maximise the event’s revenues.
Traditionally a manager wants to get his client, the fighter, the most money as possible whereas a promoter in the past wants to pay him as little as possible.
This all changed in the last fifteen years or so however — largely driven by Al Haymon, Richard Schaefer and Floyd Mayweather in the beginning (Mayweather, Schaefer and Haymon changed the game completely before anyone) as Hearn knows the fighters are the bosses now as without them, there is no event to begin with.
Hearn is friends with some of the boxers whereas others like Arum, DiBella, and others don’t take this approach as much.
Hearn gets the model of boxing where fighters are in control of the show, the star ones at least who generate the most buzz and attention, and is why he and his Matchroom are doing as well as they are — as he supports the fighters.
He knows ultimately making the best fighters is in his, the fighters and most importantly, the industry, the sport and boxing fans’ interests.
