Inside the Hilton Syon Park hotel, on another cloudy London day in July, Eddie Hearn has gathered the media for what he bills as boxing’s next big U.K. fight, an August rematch between two-time former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua and ex–British boxing champ Dillian Whyte. (Days after this story was published in the August/September issue of Forbes magazine, Whyte was replaced by Robert Helenius due to a failed a drug test.) Yet Hearn can’t help thinking ahead. Noticing former heavyweight contender Derek Chisora a few feet away, he crashes a YouTube interview with another fighter, Fabio Wardley. “What about you two?” Hearn jokes, until both unexpectedly express interest and the wheels start turning. It’s no blockbuster match, but there isn’t a limelight too small, or big, for boxing’s perpetual hype machine. The 44-year-old Hearn loves to put on a show. He’s pushed the boundaries of his family’s event promotion company, Matchroom Sport, to previously unimaginable heights, which Forbes estimates posted fiscal 2023 (ended June 30) revenue of $365 million and a net profit of $60 million. Much of that is thanks to the rejuvenation of its boxing division, which he has steered since 2012 from small-time enterprise to global brand. Boxing now accounts for over half ($235 million) of Matchroom Sport’s estimated annual sales and nearly $20 million of its cash flow. It is the biggest name in U.K. boxing, a nascent yet profitable player in America and an emerging presence in newer markets such as the Middle East. Read the full story on Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/justinbirnbaum/2023/08/11/how-eddie-hearn-built-matchroom-sport-into-a-boxing-heavyweight/?sh=4614696b238d Subscribe to FORBES: https://www.youtube.com/user/Forbes?sub_confirmation=1 Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more: https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript Stay Connected Forbes newsletters: https://newsletters.editorial.forbes.com Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes More From Forbes: http://forbes.com Forbes covers the intersection of entrepreneurship, wealth, technology, business and lifestyle with a focus on people and success.
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