Eddie Hearn Sees a Match Made in Heaven with Stevenson
Chairman of Matchroom Promotions, Eddie Hearn, is one of the sport’s giant power brokers, business-wise. Reigning WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson is one of the most talented boxers in the world. Could they be a match made in boxing heaven? Hearn believes the answer is an emphatic yes.
GIVING HIGH PRAISE
With news of Stevenson turning down a multi-million dollar deal to re-sign with Top Rank, word on the street is that the lightweight champion could sign with Matchroom. During an exclusive interview with the media source Seconds Out, Hearn spoke about what he could do for the lightweight champion.
“The reality is Shakur Stevenson may be unbeatable. . . . He’s really good. I know I can make him a star because that’s easy for me . . . So, for me, it’s easy work with Shakur Stevenson. I got the date, I got the platform, I got the megaphone. Let’s do it. But the deal’s got to be right, for everybody, and there’s got to be that buy-in from him.”
FALLING OUT OF FAVOR
While Hearn thinks that Stevenson is one of the top 5 fighters in the world, there is some growing backlash against the lightweight champion within the boxing community. The 26-year-old is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Artem Harutyunyan on July 6.
Fighting in his hometown of Newark, New Jersey, there was a smattering of boos. It’s not a good look when you get booed while fighting in front of your most avid supporters, friends, and family. Following the win, more than a few fans chastised Stevenson’s performance on social media, calling him boring, overly cautious, and safety-first.
The reality is that Stevenson is polarizing. Away from the ring, he’s known for his constant chatter on X, bickering with fellow fighters and fans. He has the skills and ring IQ to outbox anyone. But in a society that craves action, fans who love thrilling fights have a disdain for the slick lefty.
Stevenson contends that you will see the best of him if he’s put in the ring with the elite fighters at 135 and 140. He would love a unification battle against fellow lightweight champions Gervonta Davis and Vasyl Lomachenko.
Can Hearn strike a deal with the WBC 135-pound champion? And if he does, could he turn around what seems to be Stevenson’s souring reputation? The man behind Matchroom says that he’s the one who can take Stevenson’s career to unprecedented heights. Hearn has his fingers crossed that he gets the opportunity to back up his boastful words.
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