Hearn says Saudi boxing offers offer opportunity, risk

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Eddie Hearn says working with Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh brings big opportunities but no expectation of loyalty or long-term patronage, reinforcing the reality that the sport now operates on pure business.

His comments describe how boxing works now compared to before. Saudi money accelerated everything. Fighters can now leave one situation and land somewhere else almost overnight if the offer is great enough. Promoters no longer control careers like they used to because someone else can always come in with more money.

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn described Saudi involvement as direct but emotionally detached. He said everyone who enters into those deals knows what they are getting into.

“With Turki, no problem,” Hearn said. “You know where you stand because you can get (messed up) tomorrow and you can get a great opportunity the day after, but you have no emotion because you know what you’re dealing with.”

Hearn said the environment means nothing is guaranteed. He said everyone knows the deal when they enter into those relationships and can make decisions without expecting permanence.

“As long as you have an honest conversation, it doesn’t really matter what comes out of it,” Hearn said. “You know what you’re dealing with.”

The numbers in question also revealed how differently fighters are paid across combat sports.

“If you’re a UFC fighter, you’re looking at this, ‘What the (expletive), I’m absolutely getting ripped off here,'” Hearn said. “I generate more revenue than these guys and I get a tenth of the money.”

Saudi Arabia’s involvement has already produced several of boxing’s biggest events and helped finalize fights that had previously stalled over money. Fighters who once remained tied to one promoter now operate in a system where bigger offers can change direction overnight.

Hearn said he doesn’t expect the system to change. Boxing has always been driven by money, and Saudi backing has made that reality impossible to ignore.