Simon Jordan perfectly predicted boxing’s future in ominous warning to Eddie Hearn

Simon Jordan’s warning to Eddie Hearn rings eerily true in the present day.

During an appearance on talkSPORT in September 2024, Hearn and Jordan were embroiled in a heated debate over the need for boxing promoters following the emergence of Turki Alalshikh and Riyadh Season.

Jordan warned Hearn that the Saudis could cut the middleman out of the picture and begin promoting their own events.

And this exact scenario is now playing out before Hearn’s eyes with the formation of the Saudi-funded Zuffa Boxing – a promotional outfit fronted by Dana White that aims to monopolise the sport.

“When you replace the establishment, you become the establishment,” Jordan said more than a year ago when Hearn was working closely with the Saudis.

“We are in a unique period; these guys are getting these fights made for them.

“They just turn up, and that for me is not much of a skillset.

“It does make me wonder if the end game for the Saudis is to say, ‘What do we need these guys for?

“They are glorified agents; we can own the fighters.’

“If I were the money in the room, unless there was a bloody good reason, why would I deal with Hearn and [Frank] Warren.

“If I’ve got the ability to turn out their lights economically, what do I need them for?”

The story so far…

Hearn felt the full force of Zuffa’s financial firepower when they poached one of Matchroom’s biggest commercial assets, Conor Benn, last week.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

GETTY

Benn left Hearn’s promotional outfit for one $15million (£11.1m) bout, which we now know will come against former super lightweight champion Regis Prograis on the Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard on April 11.

Hearn admits losing Benn was ‘one of the lowest points of his career’, but for Frank Warren, the implications of Zuffa’s increasing prominence seemingly run deeper.

Earlier this week, the Hall of Fame promoter reportedly sent “letters before action” to Sela and TKO, the two companies that finance Zuffa Boxing, warning both of his intention to sue.

According to the Telegraph, Warren alleges that Sela and TKO breached contracts with him by launching Zuffa Boxing and is seeking $1 billion (£739, 946) in lost income.

Queensberry claims to have signed an exclusive deal with Sela in September 2023 to provide boxing services as the Saudis looked to break into the sport.

The British promotional company says it also signed a separate contract with TKO that granted the American media conglomerate access to Queenberry’s online data, including details of its contract with Sela.

Ian Walton/Matchroom

Queensberry alleges that TKO and Sela used privileged information to go behind its back to ink a five-year deal.

In response to the allegations, a spokesperson for Sela told the Telegraph: “We are disappointed by the unfounded claims brought by Queensberry and Frank Warren.

“We reject them in their entirety and are confident that the facts will fully vindicate our position.”

Queensberry and Warren have refused comment.

Boxing schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s  boxing schedule.