Eddie Hearn has Sol Alvarez and Anthony Joshua in long-term boxing plans in Abu Dhabi

Promoter Eddie Hearn says his new partnership with Abu Dhabi will include multiple boxing events in the capital every year, where the sport’s most famous stars such as Saul “Canelo” Alvarez or Anthony Joshua may be hosted Participate in the competition.

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One Long-term partnership announced this week Hearn’s Matchbox Boxing vs. Ministry of Culture and Tourism – Abu Dhabi kicks off in November with WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivor and mandatory challenger Gilberto” The world title race between Zuldo” Ramirez has kicked off. Both fighters are undefeated, Bivor 20-0 and Ramirez 44-0.

This Events at the Etihad Arena on 5 NovemberAs the opening match of the new “Championship Series,” there will be several title fights, including an IBF junior lightweight bout between champion Joe Cordina and Shavkatzhong Rahimov.

Meanwhile, WBC and IBF women’s junior welterweight champion Chantelle Cameron will take on undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill.

and NationalMatchroom Sport chairman Hearn details far-reaching plans for boxing in Abu Dhabi, while also explaining why the emirate is the ideal place to continue the sport’s growth.

“We want to build relationships with partners who have long-term plans,” Hearn said. “There is a perception, especially among fighters, that going into the Middle East means tripling your wallet. This has to stop because it will stop bringing the regularity of big title fights to the region.

“And, in Abu Dhabi, everything they do UFC, NBA, Formula one, in other countries may not have so many views. There’s the NBA, the UFC; it’s a regular pit stop.

“We actually want the opportunity to build long-term relationships from grassroots to elite sports. The first thing DCT said to me is that they are most interested in long-term partnerships. That’s the music in our ears. Because It’s great to do one-off shows, but you can’t actually do anything.

“We want to go from grassroots participation in construction to elite training live performance centers. But it will take time, it will take two to three years to start seeing results.

“So here, yes, we had November 5, but then we left and started thinking about four or five events a year here early next year. That’s the plan.”

When asked about the viability of the annual commitment, Hearn said: “Very. Probably three to five. [fights], depending on the battle.But there has to be some kind of regularity, like London, like New York, like [Las] Vegas.

“You don’t do it once a year. You have five or six major fight nights a year [including UFC] If you want to make it a battle destination. Mixing world championship boxing with UFC and NBA is very special.

“What they’ve built here is very special. They’ve played very well and are a very good card.

“Sometimes you get a big joke. But they played really well in boxing and I think this fight, this card, shows the ambition of what they want to do.”

Hearn said both Matchroom and Abu Dhabi intend to deliver a top-tier card in November to form a solid partnership.

“It has to be consistent,” he said. “You’ve seen the card; we’ve only announced three matches: Bivol-Ramirez, Cordina-Rakhimov for the world title, McCaskill-Cameron for the undisputed world title. And there will be two or three more.

“The first one is really important because you want everyone on that stage to go, ‘Wow, what a night’. You’re going to fight these. They can’t miss. They can’t fail.

“You had 20 and 0 and just beat Canelo against 44 and 0. The other two games were blockbusters as well. Everyone who buys a ticket or watches DAZN, you want them to go, ‘Wow, what’s next? When? When is the next championship series?

“Then you announce that we’re back in February or March, and here’s the card. Another ‘wow’. We want to get out of here, and people ask when we’ll be back?”

Hearn said the original plan was for Bivor to play British rising star Joshua Bouazi, but the WBA ordered a match against Ramirez. The Mexican is a former WBO super middleweight champion who has won all five fights since gaining weight to 175 pounds.

Biver, who has held the light heavyweight belt since November 2017 — marking his ninth defense — clashed in the biggest win of his career so far: Unanimous decision victory over pound-for-pound No. 1 Alvarez in May.

Hearn said that if Bivor wins in November, the plan will be a rematch with Alvarez or a fight for the undisputed crown with unified light heavyweight champion Artur Beitbiev. Hearn said Abu Dhabi could appear in the framework of Bivol-Alvarez 2.

“Are we going to bring Canelo Alvarez here against Bivol in May? It’s the kind of fight we can do,” he said. “It’s not going to be every game, but they also want to bring the biggest game in the world at some point.

“[Bivol-Ramirez] is one of them.but i’m saying [former world heavyweight champion] Joshua, I’m talking about other heavyweights, I’m talking about Canelo Alvarez. It’s a long-term plan: join a few guys with a consistent boxing schedule. “

Hearn, who also intends to use Abu Dhabi to develop a business hub for Matchroom in the Middle East, said he and DCT are committed to developing boxing at all levels in the UAE.

“Ultimately, it needs to find talent from Abu Dhabi and this country,” Hearn said. “Because that’s how you take the sport to the next level.

Gallery: Bivol beats Alvarez

“Yes, we can take Canelo, we can take Joshua. But once you start building the stars from here, it’s a total game changer.

“It will take time, but once you dig the talent out of here and start getting them into the performance centre and into the title fight at an elite level, you’re going to be in the arena – the Etihad Stadium – with a title fight locally. Fighter. By then, the sport will reach new levels.

“That’s when it will start to inspire the next level of grassroots; younger kids, and instead of just saying, ‘I know Canelo, I know Joshua,’ you have one of your own.”

Of the Bivol and Ramirez fight, Hearn said: “Before the fight with Canelo, it was a 50-50 fight and everyone in boxing said it was a great fight. Contest.

“Because of the win over Canelo Alvarez, you have to make Bivol the favorite. But Zurdo is 44, O. That’s not to say he never did. He’s already won the Chinese Super League world title, So you know he’s a world class fighter.

“The fight will be all-around. Because Zurdo has a fast-paced fight; Beaver has a lot of confidence after playing Canelo. I think he’s the best light heavyweight in the world. But Zurdo is huge, I can’t believe he ever made 168 [lbs]. He’s big. So it’s a good fight.

“But there’s a lot of pressure on Bivor because obviously you’ve got Canelo’s rematch, you’ve got Beit Biev’s undisputed fight. Two options. Canelo is desperate for a rematch; He wanted to try to beat him after being beaten.

“But Dmitry also wants to be undisputed. That’s one of his goals. With the victory in May, he’s a big star.”

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Updated: September 1, 2022 at 5:15 pm