The boxing world is at boiling point as a new feud has taken center stage. English promoter Eddie Hearn has taken a considerably huge swipe at Bob Arum, blaming him for what he describes as an appalling handling of Shakur Stevenson’s career. Stevenson’s recent performances and the calibre of his opponents have come under scrutiny, triggering a heated debate revolving around promotion in the boxing industry.
“Bob Arum has done an awful job promoting Shakur Stevenson.” This public assertion from Hearn paints a less-than-flattering picture of Bob Arum’s handling of the American star. Hearn holds nothing back when it comes to criticizing Arum’s promotion of Stevenson, referring to it as downright dreadful.
Shakur Stevenson, a former featherweight titlist, moved up to the junior lightweight last year. He emerged victorious in both his 2020 bouts, sparking buzz in boxing circles. However, the quality of his opponents left many fans disenchanted, stirring the blame towards Bob Arum and his Top Rank promotional outfit. Hearn, never one to steer clear of controversy, took this opportunity to fire shots.
“Stevenson is a bright lad. Someone that talented shouldn’t be restricted by lackluster promotion.” These sentiments from Hearn outline the basis of his criticism towards Arum. In Hearn’s perspective, an athlete of Stevenson’s caliber deserves to fight against top-notch opponents in high-profile matches. The poor quality matches and a drastic decline in Stevenson’s popularity are what Hearn equates to Arum’s lacklustre promotional tactics.
In response to Hearn’s remarks, Arum’s camp remained silent, letting the criticism wash over them. Stevenson, on the other hand, voiced his agreement with Hearn’s statements. Indirectly slamming Bob Arum, the young fighter expressed his dissatisfaction with the promotional journey so far. “I deserve much better treatment in this game.” An evident discontent and willingness to take on better opponents was visible in Stevenson’s remarks.
Aligning with Hearn’s perspective, Stevenson hinted at a potential switch to Matchroom Boxing, run by Hearn. Whenever such rumors surround young, promising talents like Stevenson, the boxing industry turns its focus to that direction. Hearn, too, didn’t shy away from subtly endorsing such a switch.
Further fuelling this promotion debate, Hearn didn’t limit his criticism to Arum alone. He also took a dig at American network ESPN for their role in broadcasting Stevenson’s bouts. According to Hearn, ESPN, much like Arum, has failed to put Stevenson in the limelight, neglecting possible blockbuster fights.
“Can you imagine the fight nights we could construct with Stevenson in our roster?” Hearn asked, hinting at a possible future for the former champion if he were to switch promotions.
Hearn’s criticism of Arum’s promotional tactics not only puts an emphasis on the importance of astute promotion in boxing but also raises pertinent questions about the handling of fighters. With young talents like Shakur Stevenson at risk of being under-promoted, it’s a wake-up call for the industry. Is it time for a change in the promotional choices that men like Bob Arum make?
Despite the criticism, Arum’s contribution to boxing and his success in promoting fighters like Lomachenko and Crawford remains undisputed. However, whether he can steer Shakur Stevenson’s career into similar successful paths, remains a question that only time can answer.
