Eddie Hearn Throws Jabs at Teofimo Lopez & Shakur Stevenson’s Selling Skills
Renowned boxing promoter, Eddie Hearn, couldn’t resist taking a shot at boxers Teofimo Lopez and Shakur Stevenson in his latest interview. Not one to mince words, Hearn was critical of both athletes’ abilities to garner substantial attention for their events and implied that Gervonta Davis, another stellar boxer, is waiting in the wings to snatch the winner.
Hearn, the managing director of Matchroom Sport, doesn’t shy away from expressing his views, especially when it comes to the boxing business. His recent discourse focused on the selling capabilities of his two younger competitors. “Boxing is as much about the marketability of an athlete as it is about their talents in the ring,” Hearn stated. “And as it stands, Lopez and Stevenson simply are not selling.”
Teofimo Lopez, the 24-year-old Honduran-American professional boxer, currently holds the unified lightweight world champion title. He’s known for his quick hands, remarkable punching power, and defensive prowess. However, according to Hearn, his skills on the canvas aren’t translating into pay-per-view numbers.
Similarly, Shakur Stevenson, the 23-year-old boxing wonder, despite winning a gold medal in the World Championships, doesn’t seem to be pulling in the desired audience numbers. Hearn’s criticism of such accomplished athletes does beg the question: Is the problem with the athletes’ marketability or the state of boxing promotion?
In contrast to his criticism of Lopez and Stevenson, Hearn had high praise for Gervonta Davis. “Gervonta brings a whole new level of intensity to the game,” he stated, pointing to Davis’s raw talent and exciting boxing style that draws in audiences worldwide. He added, “Gervonta needs the winner,” implying that a match between Davis and either Lopez or Stevenson could raise both ticket sales and pay-per-view numbers.
Hearn’s candid assessments aren’t new to the world of boxing. He’s long been known as a promoter who isn’t afraid to share his opinions, even when they’re controversial. His comments on Lopez and Stevenson reflect a larger issue concerning the way boxers are marketed and promoted in today’s digital age.
Social media and the internet have transformed the rules of the boxing promotional game. It’s no longer enough to be an exceptional athlete. Today, boxers are expected to be entertainers, influencers, and brand ambassadors. It’s a balancing act of showcasing one’s skills inside the ring while creating engaging content outside of it to attract and maintain a dedicated fan base.
It’s undeniable that both Lopez and Stevenson possess extraordinary boxing skills. However, as Hearn points out, this sport has always been about more than just what occurs within the ring. As such, perhaps it is time for these two boxing greats to focus more on their promotion skills and less on their left hooks.
In conclusion, regardless of whether you agree with Eddie Hearn’s sentiments about the selling capabilities of Lopez and Stevenson, it’s an interesting dynamic to consider. The business of boxing now calls for more than sheer athletic skill – it requires charisma and an ability to sell oneself to the masses. In this regard, Hearn seems to believe that Gervonta Davis is outperforming both Lopez and Stevenson, and a showdown between Davis and the winner could be what the boxing world needs to boost viewership numbers.
