Eddie Hearn aims to put Abu Dhabi on par with Las Vegas and New York

Eddie Hearn believes that Abu Dhabi can become one of the leading destinations for the world’s top boxing matches, rivaling Las Vegas and New York as a must-see for fighting fans.

When Hearn’s Match Room Boxing and Ministry of Culture and Tourism partner Abu Dhabi for WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivor and challenger Gilberto “Zuldo” Ramirez As the headlines prepare for the world title fight, promoters say it’s just the start of an exciting journey for the capital.

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“It’s not a traditional stop on the global map for fighting fans who go to big events at Madison Square Garden and Las Vegas,” Hearn told National“Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that Abu Dhabi becomes a well-known destination for big boxing matches.”

This November 5th eventThe first match of the new partnership’s “Championship Series” will take place at the Etihad Arena with at least one more world title fight – WBC and IBF Women’s Junior Welterweight Champion Chantelle Cameron An undisputed match against undisputed welterweight champion Jessica McCaskill.

Hearn hopes the event will ignite Abu Dhabi’s tentacles, with a real possibility of Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, Anthony Joshua Or Katie Taylor competing in the capital next year.

Hearn said that while Matchroom was determined to ensure the success of the inaugural event, there was also talk of a timetable for 2023.

“We wanted to count November 5th, and we wanted to make sure it was executed in a perfect way,” Hearn said. “At the same time, boxing is a sport that requires planning. So if you want big fights in January, February, March, April, now is the time to start securing those fights.

“We’re in conversations with DCT and 11 – our partners – about some major fight nights and major names and have a positive schedule for boxing.

“I think it’s very important. If you really want to build the sport in the area, I’m not really a believer or a fan of one-off events. In order to promote, educate, inspire people from the grassroots, increase participation, you need People are familiar with the sport, and you can do this by developing a solid schedule of activities over time.

“November 5th is the start: huge card, people will watch, people will love it, people will be inspired, and then you will move on to the next one. It’s a huge main event and card, but also has the ability to put some more Big names like Anthony Joshua, Canelo Alvarez and Katie Taylor and other members of our stables are brought to Abu Dhabi. I think that’s going to be the focus.

“The reason we entered into this agreement with Abu Dhabi and DCT is to develop a long-term plan for boxing in the region and these discussions are ongoing.”

Hearn said that since the partnership with DCT was announced on Aug. 31, he has spoken to some of the elite boxers about fighting in Abu Dhabi, and the response has been “all positive”.

“As a warrior about creating a legacy,” Hearn said. “Fighting in these countries, these regions, is very important in creating a career legacy.

‘Canelo Alvarez really wants to play a game in the Middle East; Anthony Joshua has apparently played two games in Saudi [Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019 and Oleksandr Usyk in August]; Katie Taylor, an icon of the sport, is open to fighting there.

“So we have the ability to have the biggest fight out there and I hope to see some of those names in Abu Dhabi next year.”

Arguably the most profitable star in sports, Alvarez is expected to face the winner of Bivol Ramirez next.Mexican, last month beat Gennady Golovkin In their trilogy clash, they were defeated by Bivor earlier this year, when he lost by unanimous decision to yet another heavyweight champion. It represented the second defeat of Alvarez’s remarkable 62-game career.

Undisputed super middleweight champion Alvarez said after Golovkin’s victory that he will need some time away from the sport to undergo surgery on his left hand and that his return is targeted for May or September.

Hearn said he thinks the former is more likely, which could open the door for Bivol’s rematch in Abu Dhabi.

“I think it’s going to be May,” Hearn said. “He talked about September, but I think he will have hand surgery and he will be ready to start training at the end of the year, which will give him plenty of time.

“He wants to fight internationally; that’s a big part of his plan, whether it’s England, the Middle East, Australia or Mexico. But I’ll even do my best to bring him to November 5 to see if he can. Play that game. Because that’s what he wants.”

Asked what it would take for the fight to land in Abu Dhabi, Hearn added: “Obviously it’s expensive. You have a guy who does $20 million doors in Las Vegas every time he fights. United States Prime-time pay-per-view purchases are in the hundreds of thousands.

“So this deal has to be for everyone. But he wants it to happen. And I think if he comes to Abu Dhabi on November 5, he’s going to really enjoy what he sees.”

Hearn said a full announcement on next month’s cards, which includes a “heavyweight fight” and some regional-based fighters, will be made in due course — a priority for the partnership.

The Matchroom Sport chairman added that ticket sales for November 5 were “going well” after their release last month.

“We need to focus on educating the Abu Dhabi community about boxing and getting people used to the big fight nights and big boxing events in Abu Dhabi,” Hearn said. “It takes time. They will see quality like this, but like anything, you go from 8,000 to 10,000 [attending]to 12,000, to 15,000, and so on.

“And, really, it’s about making sure people know how good the event is and making sure that when the event is over, they leave with an understanding of how enjoyable the night was.”

Regarding the long-term agreement with DCT, Hurd said: “That’s why we have entered into this partnership: to create a long-term, sustainable program and schedule for Abu Dhabi’s major boxing events.

“From grassroots to the sport’s elite, to increasing participation in amateur clubs, to developing future great fighters from the region. But also filling [Abu Dhabi] A premier event schedule, including major world championship boxing matches – it all starts on November 5th. “

Updated: 10/5/2022 2:57AM