1 00:00:01,879 --> 00:00:05,320 Well, it's my great pleasure I'd be joined on the podcast this week with 2 00:00:05,440 --> 00:00:09,080 somebody I'm not sure a lot of American fans are familiar with, but he's 3 00:00:09,080 --> 00:00:11,919 certainly an important figure in the sport of boxing. Is none other than Ben 4 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:16,000 Shalom, who is the big boss man of the promotional outfit boxer, one 5 00:00:16,039 --> 00:00:19,160 of the leading promoters in the world, certainly in the United Kingdom. Ben, 6 00:00:19,160 --> 00:00:21,160 thank you for being on the show today. I appreciate we got a 7 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:26,839 lot to talk about, no problem. I think this is my first US 8 00:00:26,879 --> 00:00:30,559 outcast as well, so delights it to be joining. Well, it is 9 00:00:30,600 --> 00:00:33,560 my honor. So just to let some folks know, I mean, you 10 00:00:33,920 --> 00:00:38,159 are the chief of the Boxer Outfit. You guys have you know, several 11 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:40,960 outstanding fighters in your stable on name off you will talk about some of their 12 00:00:41,000 --> 00:00:44,359 fights. You know, you have fights coming up, Josh Bowatzi against Dan 13 00:00:44,399 --> 00:00:48,640 Aziz. You've got the great young prospect Adam Azim, the outstanding women's up 14 00:00:48,640 --> 00:00:54,479 and coming fighter Caroline Dubois. You promote the WBO cruiserweight champion Chris Pillum Smith. 15 00:00:55,119 --> 00:00:58,840 You've been the promoter for the great women's boxer Savannah Marshall. I mean, 16 00:00:59,119 --> 00:01:02,880 plenty of excellent fighters within the stable. You're the promoter of Natasha Jonas, 17 00:01:02,920 --> 00:01:06,359 one of the top female boxers in the world. So just to start 18 00:01:06,359 --> 00:01:07,359 off, could you just give us, you know, the short version, 19 00:01:07,359 --> 00:01:10,959 if you will. I've had a bench alone age thirty, by the way, 20 00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:14,799 a very young man for boxing promotion. Get involved as a promoter in 21 00:01:14,799 --> 00:01:19,879 this great sport. Yeah, it's a crazy story. I think I was 22 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:26,959 twenty three years old. I'd run different events businesses during studying and once I 23 00:01:26,040 --> 00:01:30,439 got all that out of the way, I grew up in Manchester and for 24 00:01:30,519 --> 00:01:34,719 people that don't know, Manchester is probably the second city in the UK, 25 00:01:34,799 --> 00:01:41,079 but it's a big fight city. It's somewhere where I would say for most 26 00:01:41,200 --> 00:01:48,000 people the sport of popularity go football and then boxing. And boxing is a 27 00:01:48,040 --> 00:01:53,040 sport usually that does really well in the cities and always produces great fighters, 28 00:01:53,079 --> 00:01:57,799 but particularly in Manchester growing up, you know, my heroes were Ricky Hatton 29 00:01:57,840 --> 00:02:01,400 and Ami Kahn who were from down the road, and a lot of my 30 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:05,239 friends were fighters, and so I used to go to local shows. I 31 00:02:05,319 --> 00:02:08,840 used to see what the sport was like then and the challenges that it had 32 00:02:08,879 --> 00:02:14,879 for the fighters. For the broadcasters and the and for the sponsors as well. 33 00:02:14,919 --> 00:02:19,039 And it was always came to me as I loved the sport. I 34 00:02:19,080 --> 00:02:22,800 loved the fighters. I loved almost what they have to go through. And 35 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:27,000 a lot of people don't see the fighters that go through the most, which 36 00:02:27,080 --> 00:02:30,280 is the ones where they don't know if another opportunity is coming. It's not 37 00:02:30,319 --> 00:02:36,360 a sport that's predictable or meritocratic or easy, too easy to understand for many 38 00:02:36,400 --> 00:02:39,199 people, and that was what inspired me. And then it was, well, 39 00:02:39,199 --> 00:02:45,879 why is this sport viewed as intimidating sometimes or definitely at the time when 40 00:02:45,879 --> 00:02:51,919 I was growing up very very masculine and sort of always shrouded in sort of 41 00:02:53,919 --> 00:02:57,479 in a in a cloud of murkiness at times. And that was the same 42 00:02:57,520 --> 00:03:00,080 in the US for a long time as well. And so I was just 43 00:03:00,199 --> 00:03:06,039 inspired by the fighters and the sport and the opportunity, particularly by the broadcasting 44 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:08,840 world changing. And because I ran events from an early stage and I was 45 00:03:08,879 --> 00:03:14,199 hope helping out on local shows, you know, small shows, whether it 46 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:20,199 was matchmaking or helping out in the press conferences or international broadcasting, and so 47 00:03:20,639 --> 00:03:25,479 I really sort of understood the sport at the grassroots level and really had to 48 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:30,360 work my way up and understand how it worked on that level, and that 49 00:03:30,800 --> 00:03:34,879 prepared me and provided me in good stead. And I think, to be 50 00:03:34,960 --> 00:03:38,560 honest, it was probably my age and the fact that I didn't need a 51 00:03:38,599 --> 00:03:43,599 short term win and I was willing to sort of pursue my dream, so 52 00:03:43,759 --> 00:03:49,840 to speak, without the pressure of the responsibilities that you get when you're older. 53 00:03:49,879 --> 00:03:52,159 I mean, a twenty three year old, twenty four year old guy 54 00:03:52,800 --> 00:03:55,120 trying to get his license and trying to make his way in the boxing world 55 00:03:55,879 --> 00:04:03,319 can seem extremely naive, but I that's true. And so it wasn't the 56 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:06,800 obvious choice. It wasn't a choice that my parents really understood. It's not 57 00:04:08,199 --> 00:04:11,159 there rank. There isn't really a career to be in boxing, you know, 58 00:04:11,680 --> 00:04:15,400 Okay, there's one or two promoters that have run the sport for thirty 59 00:04:15,479 --> 00:04:18,120 forty to fifty years, So what was going to change? And so yeah, 60 00:04:18,120 --> 00:04:23,720 there was a level of naivety, but also enthusiasm and work ethic and 61 00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,519 understanding that went into the early years. And I think, yeah, as 62 00:04:27,519 --> 00:04:30,399 I say, I think because I was able to stick at it and I 63 00:04:30,480 --> 00:04:35,519 didn't have the responsibilities, and I really worked from the from the ground up 64 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:41,040 so to speak. It allowed me to i think undersport understand the sport and 65 00:04:42,040 --> 00:04:45,759 the business for boxing as well and understand it from that side, which maybe 66 00:04:45,920 --> 00:04:50,079 the first few years was was a learning process and that allowed me to probably 67 00:04:50,800 --> 00:04:57,079 break into the sport so to speak where others haven't and obviously was helped out 68 00:04:57,120 --> 00:05:01,759 by the competition amongst broadcasters the changing so media landscape as well. So let's 69 00:05:01,759 --> 00:05:05,040 talk about that just a little bit, so to give people an idea here, 70 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:11,240 your boxing events are exclusive in the UK on Sky Sports, which has 71 00:05:11,279 --> 00:05:15,199 been a behemoth for boxing for decades in the UK. So a few year, 72 00:05:15,199 --> 00:05:18,639 a couple of years ago a Matchroom Boxing with Eddie Hearn and their group, 73 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:24,879 their UK exclusivity came to an end and they decided to move their events 74 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:27,519 to Dizone. Now they were already on to Zone in the United States, 75 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,759 but they were still on Sky and in the UK they went to the Zone 76 00:05:30,959 --> 00:05:38,079 and that left an opening for Sky to find another main provider for UK based 77 00:05:38,120 --> 00:05:43,879 events that became Boxer. You guys got that exclusivity, a tremendous opportunity obviously 78 00:05:43,920 --> 00:05:46,639 for that platform for you to help build your stable. How big of a 79 00:05:46,720 --> 00:05:49,759 moment for your company was that now you'd a had some smaller events on there, 80 00:05:50,079 --> 00:05:56,000 but in terms of your main cards becoming like the key promoter for the 81 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:59,000 events on Sky How big of a moment was that for you and your company? 82 00:06:00,360 --> 00:06:01,480 Yeah, it was. It was a crazy moment. It was a 83 00:06:01,519 --> 00:06:05,920 culmination of a lot of work. But you know, we'd gone from TV 84 00:06:06,240 --> 00:06:10,680 I mean, we had to start with a tournament. We couldn't really afford 85 00:06:11,040 --> 00:06:15,439 the sign fighters, and we went from five Spike to ITV four to bet 86 00:06:15,680 --> 00:06:20,480 Sport and just built our craft and infrastructure. And then for us, we 87 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,759 knew there was going to be a departure at Sky Sports, and we were 88 00:06:24,759 --> 00:06:28,879 offered other TV networks you know, on the way up that didn't quite fit 89 00:06:29,040 --> 00:06:32,120 or weren't quite right or locked us into something, and we believed in ourselves 90 00:06:32,120 --> 00:06:35,319 and knew that things would change. And so for us, it was at 91 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:40,920 the end of a long process and one that probably was surprising to many, 92 00:06:41,399 --> 00:06:45,959 but because we'd been working on it for so long, we knew it was 93 00:06:46,000 --> 00:06:48,319 coming. But obviously once you once you get a deal like that, it 94 00:06:48,399 --> 00:06:53,639 really is the culmination of many years work and then you really are in the 95 00:06:53,920 --> 00:06:57,079 in the big time. You know, every promoter, I mean, any 96 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:00,079 promoter. I mean maybe it's a bit different now with the with the introduction 97 00:07:00,240 --> 00:07:04,160 of Saudi Arabia, but every big promoter needs a big network. You know, 98 00:07:04,279 --> 00:07:08,600 you can't really be a promoter without a network, and so at least 99 00:07:08,600 --> 00:07:11,639 not at the highest level. That's true. That's true. Yeah, yeah, 100 00:07:11,839 --> 00:07:14,959 And that's what I mean, And that's no disrespect. We have promoted 101 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:18,279 many small hole shows and have so much respect for the promoters that do it, 102 00:07:18,319 --> 00:07:23,839 and this is such an important part of the ecosystem and for developing fights, 103 00:07:24,279 --> 00:07:27,680 to really put on the biggest fights and the biggest events, you've got 104 00:07:27,720 --> 00:07:31,240 to have a good TV network and we were and the Sky was definitely the 105 00:07:31,279 --> 00:07:35,040 one for us. So in the UK, I don't think anybody would argue 106 00:07:35,079 --> 00:07:40,319 with this. There's three top level, upper tier promoters. And again, 107 00:07:40,399 --> 00:07:43,399 like you said, no disrespect to the guys and gals that promote some of 108 00:07:43,439 --> 00:07:46,720 the smaller shows. But it is in fact Boxer on Sky. You have, 109 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,079 like I mentioned, Matchroom Boxing on his own and of course you've got 110 00:07:50,279 --> 00:07:56,600 Frank Warren and his Queensberry Promotions on what is now TNT Sports what is it 111 00:07:56,839 --> 00:08:01,720 like to compete with those guys for talent, for attention on your events, 112 00:08:01,040 --> 00:08:05,639 for ticket sales, for dates, for you name it events. I mean, 113 00:08:05,759 --> 00:08:09,639 they've been around a long time, They've obviously promoted at the highest level. 114 00:08:09,519 --> 00:08:11,959 They've got more experiencing you. They're older than you, you know, 115 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,360 Frank being around for many many years. Eddie of course is much younger than 116 00:08:16,959 --> 00:08:20,800 Frank, and you're much younger than Eddie. But you're like the three big 117 00:08:20,839 --> 00:08:22,680 guys over there in terms of the promotion. What's it like to go head 118 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:28,879 to head in some sense with those two guys. Oh, it's look, 119 00:08:28,759 --> 00:08:31,919 I'm competing against guys that, as you said, have been at the top 120 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,679 for a very very long time, so we see. It's incredibly challenging but 121 00:08:35,759 --> 00:08:39,480 incredibly rewarding. You know, these are guys that have been putting on all 122 00:08:39,480 --> 00:08:43,159 the fights that I used to go to. Even as a child. I 123 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:48,000 remember being in the in the top row of the Manchester Arena going to Eddie 124 00:08:48,039 --> 00:08:52,080 Hearn events, going to Frank Warren events. So to be competing with them, 125 00:08:52,159 --> 00:08:56,759 I don't like to say that, because I think all promoters are there 126 00:08:56,879 --> 00:08:58,639 to champion the sport and work with the sport, and we see promoters work 127 00:08:58,679 --> 00:09:03,679 more together with each other more than ever before. But it is a yeah, 128 00:09:03,720 --> 00:09:07,879 it's an amazing experience and it's one that takes a lot of getting used 129 00:09:07,879 --> 00:09:11,960 to because, as you say, you have to have your wits about you. 130 00:09:11,960 --> 00:09:16,559 You have to be incredibly sharp, incredibly on your game, because you 131 00:09:16,639 --> 00:09:20,919 are as you know, you are responsible for promoting boxing at the highest level 132 00:09:22,320 --> 00:09:24,600 in and around people that have been doing it for decades, whose families have 133 00:09:24,639 --> 00:09:28,600 been doing it for decades, and almost institutions in the sport. That's what 134 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,200 it is really. You know, you look at the US and you look 135 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:35,919 at the UK, and even in the US it's been Al Hayman and Bob 136 00:09:35,960 --> 00:09:39,440 Aroon. I know you've got Oscar as well and plenty of other promoters, 137 00:09:39,480 --> 00:09:43,200 but you know, these are store warks, and these are guys that have 138 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:46,159 been around decades and decades, and that's usually the way. It's a closed 139 00:09:46,159 --> 00:09:50,879 shop, and so to break in its difficult to the start in the sense 140 00:09:52,600 --> 00:09:56,039 really no one wants you around, you know, and they help what property. 141 00:09:56,799 --> 00:10:01,039 They don't want you to exist. Over time, yeah, you know, 142 00:10:01,240 --> 00:10:03,240 a bit more respects as you go, but ultimately you have to look 143 00:10:03,279 --> 00:10:09,600 after yourself and and but yeah, you can learn a lot from from them. 144 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:13,279 I think a lot is made as to as to competing with them, 145 00:10:13,279 --> 00:10:16,639 But I have to say, you know, these guys, whether I agree 146 00:10:16,679 --> 00:10:20,399 with them not or everything. No one's going to agree on everything, but 147 00:10:20,440 --> 00:10:26,200 that work ethic and commitment to the sport can't be denied. And that's why 148 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:30,320 these guys, whether it's Hayman, Bob, Frank Eddie, have been doing 149 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:33,480 it for so long. Well. One of that, I think critical aspects 150 00:10:33,799 --> 00:10:39,600 of the potential success for boxer is the fact that you mentioned having a broadcast 151 00:10:39,639 --> 00:10:43,919 partner. Obviously you have a wonderful partner in sky uh in the UK, 152 00:10:43,399 --> 00:10:46,000 but it's a big world out there, and one of the biggest markets, 153 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:50,480 if not the biggest, is the United States of America. And you know, 154 00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:54,039 before we got onto this podcast start talking about stuff you and I would 155 00:10:54,080 --> 00:10:56,000 talk about, Hey, Ben, when are you going to have some of 156 00:10:56,039 --> 00:10:58,600 your events be more available in the United States? Because I thought you're putting 157 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:00,799 on some good fights and some good shows. And you know, I'm a 158 00:11:00,840 --> 00:11:03,080 diehard boxing fan and junkie if you will, and I know i'd like to 159 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:09,240 see it legally and nice, nice you know format good stream or good broadcast, 160 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:13,720 so you know, not a not a poor quality broadcast. Well, 161 00:11:13,759 --> 00:11:16,240 you now have a deal with the Peacock streaming service, which is no joke 162 00:11:16,240 --> 00:11:20,039 in the United States, and if you follow what goes on here, they 163 00:11:20,159 --> 00:11:24,440 just recently had a a NFL playoff game, you know, for football, 164 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:28,960 which has always been on free to over the air or at least basic cable, 165 00:11:28,159 --> 00:11:31,639 and people were freaking out because they had to spend the five ninety nine 166 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:33,919 to buy a monthly subscription to Peacock, which has all kinds of stuff on 167 00:11:33,919 --> 00:11:37,000 its sports entertainment et cetera. But now it is the home also, I 168 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:41,240 mean not as big maybe as the National Football League, but certainly for boxing 169 00:11:41,279 --> 00:11:45,279 fans. You're now it's now the home for boxer events here in the United 170 00:11:45,320 --> 00:11:46,879 States. So can you tell me a little bit about after having just kind 171 00:11:46,879 --> 00:11:50,240 of sporadic coverage of your events, like a pay per view here and there 172 00:11:50,279 --> 00:11:54,480 on the Fight app or occasionally a deal where your event was put on ESPN 173 00:11:54,519 --> 00:11:58,639 Plus, now you have a place to call home where if I want to 174 00:11:58,679 --> 00:12:01,279 watch boxer events, I can go to Peacock. I mean, how is 175 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:05,639 that? How do you think that's going to help UH boxer and and the 176 00:12:05,840 --> 00:12:09,200 and the attention. Let's say you get here in America for your events. 177 00:12:09,039 --> 00:12:13,279 As you go along and growing any business, you're going to meet challenges. 178 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:18,559 I remember everyone thought, well, a lot of people thought when we got 179 00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:22,039 scouted, well, you know, you know, you've you've made it. 180 00:12:22,279 --> 00:12:24,960 But at every stage, it's can you sign fights? Is? Can you 181 00:12:26,000 --> 00:12:28,000 sign Olympians? Can you put on pay per view events? Can you put 182 00:12:28,000 --> 00:12:31,000 on big events? Can you put on a schedule? Can you build a 183 00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:35,320 roster? Can you do something in women's boxing. There's all these question marks 184 00:12:35,360 --> 00:12:39,799 as a promoter that I guess, especially as a young promoter, I'm not 185 00:12:39,840 --> 00:12:43,639 going to have I'm gonna have to answer for a long time to come. 186 00:12:43,720 --> 00:12:48,480 And I think one of the big things for us was bossing is a global 187 00:12:48,519 --> 00:12:52,720 sport, the opportunities, particularly at the highest level. It's an international sport 188 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:58,120 and that involves international opponents. And it was difficult because the talent that we're 189 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:01,960 developing in the shows that we're putting on in the UK, it's grown to 190 00:13:03,399 --> 00:13:07,159 well, it's grown in a massive way. It's grown at a rate that 191 00:13:09,039 --> 00:13:13,840 many people have been surprised to but Ultimately you have to have strong partners in 192 00:13:13,879 --> 00:13:18,399 the right territories and we have talent in our roster now that I think had 193 00:13:18,440 --> 00:13:22,840 the potential to be global superstars. So not having a US outlet, not 194 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:26,440 having a US vision for the business, not being able to mark a strategy 195 00:13:26,519 --> 00:13:31,799 to be able hopefully to put on shows there one day as well, was 196 00:13:31,320 --> 00:13:35,440 becoming increasingly difficult. It's very hard, as I say, at the top 197 00:13:35,519 --> 00:13:39,519 level, to operate as an island. I think that was one of the 198 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:43,799 attractions of why Eddie went to the own because he could put on international fights 199 00:13:43,799 --> 00:13:48,120 everywhere and anywhere. And I think as a promoter you need outlets and as 200 00:13:48,159 --> 00:13:50,639 you said, you need to have strong networks so to be able to which 201 00:13:50,720 --> 00:13:56,120 was a challenge. To be able to convince NBC peek Up to come into 202 00:13:56,200 --> 00:14:00,759 the sport after they've been not been in the sport for so many years and 203 00:14:00,759 --> 00:14:05,240 potentially been scarred by this war took took a while, took a lot of 204 00:14:05,279 --> 00:14:09,799 convincing, took to little help in terms of being able to prove ourselves on 205 00:14:09,840 --> 00:14:13,080 the Sky platform first. And yes it's culminated in the deal which will take 206 00:14:13,159 --> 00:14:18,600 all our UK shows first, which gives us the opportunity to start looking at 207 00:14:18,000 --> 00:14:22,679 a US roster. It gives us the opportunity to start monitoring how things work 208 00:14:22,759 --> 00:14:26,679 over there and eventually bring shows over. So yeah, a huge moment. 209 00:14:26,919 --> 00:14:30,720 So that was my that was my question. Like, so it's part of 210 00:14:30,759 --> 00:14:33,039 the It's it's great that you know, the average fight fan who's a diehard 211 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:37,639 can certainly tune in to Peacock and watch at a reasonable hour here in the 212 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:39,840 United States and check out your shows. But the next question is do you 213 00:14:39,960 --> 00:14:46,840 have the desire or the plans to come and and bring boxer events to the 214 00:14:46,919 --> 00:14:50,360 United States like Mattrim has done, you know, since they've hooked up with 215 00:14:50,399 --> 00:14:54,480 his own and put on boxer cards here somewhere at venues in the United States 216 00:14:54,519 --> 00:14:58,159 with American fighters, perhaps that you've signed. Yeah, no, we definitely 217 00:14:58,159 --> 00:15:00,799 do. I mean I've had to turn away a Marria Con fighters in the 218 00:15:00,840 --> 00:15:05,720 past. I've had to turn away fights that were Transatlantic fights because the US 219 00:15:05,759 --> 00:15:09,480 outlet wasn't there. So that's the plan. We want to integrate with Peacock. 220 00:15:09,519 --> 00:15:13,639 We want to understand their platform better. They have the Premier League and 221 00:15:13,480 --> 00:15:20,039 the and the and Wrestling as well, which are huge things over here in 222 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:22,519 the UK. So for anyone out in the UK, I think out in 223 00:15:22,559 --> 00:15:26,200 the US from the UK, they're going to be watching on Peacock as well. 224 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:31,200 But it gives us a platform that we know really works. What they've 225 00:15:31,200 --> 00:15:33,200 done with the Premier League, what they've done with WWE over there, and 226 00:15:33,200 --> 00:15:37,720 obviously the linear channels and the major sports they have over there, gives us 227 00:15:37,919 --> 00:15:43,240 a real opportunity. And so in the short term, yes, we want 228 00:15:43,240 --> 00:15:46,799 to put on successful shows in the UK, we want to broadcast them successfully 229 00:15:46,799 --> 00:15:50,240 in the US. We want to build out our team first, and that 230 00:15:50,399 --> 00:15:54,679 was how I built in the UK. It was incremental. I think you 231 00:15:54,720 --> 00:16:00,799 see a lot of people coming into the sport spending loads of money hoping that 232 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,879 they're going to completely do something or takeover and then and then they leave. 233 00:16:04,000 --> 00:16:11,759 And for me, taking things incrementally, working well with your partner and finding 234 00:16:11,799 --> 00:16:15,480 ways to grow naturally is the best way. And that was that I think 235 00:16:15,559 --> 00:16:18,799 Peacock brought into as well. They don't want to jump head first. They 236 00:16:18,840 --> 00:16:22,120 want to they want to build a property on their platform and look at ways 237 00:16:22,120 --> 00:16:26,480 to do boxing differently and look at ways to make it work for that platform. 238 00:16:26,519 --> 00:16:30,759 So it's incredibly exciting. Do you think that that the part of the 239 00:16:30,200 --> 00:16:33,360 part of the way that you were able to work it out with them is 240 00:16:34,080 --> 00:16:37,759 because corporately it made sense. You look, I mean people know that Sky 241 00:16:37,960 --> 00:16:41,720 is owned by Comcast, and here in the United States, NBC and Peacock 242 00:16:41,759 --> 00:16:45,519 are owned by Comcasts. So in one sense there is they're already sort of 243 00:16:45,559 --> 00:16:48,159 all in the family. Did that help sort of grease the wheels for the 244 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:55,200 deal? It made it there was an easy reference point, you know. 245 00:16:55,480 --> 00:17:02,519 I think we've done a good job for Sky. Sky understood how challenging boxing 246 00:17:02,679 --> 00:17:07,160 was going to be. They'd invested in a partnership for over ten years and 247 00:17:07,200 --> 00:17:10,559 all their fighters and all their money and all their investment, and then overnight 248 00:17:10,680 --> 00:17:14,039 is gone. You're talking about matchroom packing up and going to the zone, 249 00:17:14,160 --> 00:17:17,839 right, Yeah, it's gone, and Overnight is gone. And there they're 250 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:22,359 sat there thinking, you know, probably thinking do we stay in boxing? 251 00:17:22,720 --> 00:17:26,839 You know, these promoters are extremely established. We don't have any fighters, 252 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:30,400 and so they know how challenging that's been for us, and they can see 253 00:17:30,440 --> 00:17:36,279 that we've been we're building slowly and surely, and we're building an unbelievable stable 254 00:17:36,359 --> 00:17:40,119 over in the in the UK, and so I think that gave them confidence 255 00:17:40,119 --> 00:17:45,279 to make the record recommendation that we were knocking on the door for a long 256 00:17:45,319 --> 00:17:48,960 time. And hopefully it will benefit Sky because it means that over time we 257 00:17:48,000 --> 00:17:52,799 can put on the biggest fights, the biggest trans atlantic fights that can sit 258 00:17:52,839 --> 00:17:55,480 above across both platforms. All right, well, let's talk about some of 259 00:17:55,519 --> 00:17:57,839 those events. We're talking about your first Peacock card, at least the one 260 00:17:57,839 --> 00:18:00,680 that you know it will air on Sky obviously in the UK. But the 261 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:04,039 first card that you have that will air on Peacock in twenty twenty four, 262 00:18:04,440 --> 00:18:07,400 what I think is a really good card. I mean, it was delayed 263 00:18:07,759 --> 00:18:10,480 because of an injury, but it's now back on for February third. It 264 00:18:10,480 --> 00:18:15,160 will take place in London. It's a very intriguing WBA light heavyweight elimination fight 265 00:18:15,440 --> 00:18:19,119 main event, Joshua Bowatzi, the Olympian against his good pal and also a 266 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:23,200 top ranked light heavyweight Dan Aziz, that has I think a potential to be 267 00:18:23,240 --> 00:18:26,000 a really interesting fight, certainly has big stakes. The winner, I guess 268 00:18:26,039 --> 00:18:30,319 becomes the mandatory for Dmitri Biebel, who of course has been in the news 269 00:18:30,319 --> 00:18:33,160 because of the prospect and the likelihood of the undisputed fight between him and Arthur 270 00:18:33,200 --> 00:18:37,519 Betterer Biev coming later this year in Saudi Arabia, and we'll just run through 271 00:18:37,519 --> 00:18:40,680 that card. Also, I want to hear your tyke on the whole show. 272 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,839 The other fight, the co feature, is also I think an excellent 273 00:18:44,880 --> 00:18:47,920 fight. Also Adam Azim who's one of my favorite young prospects. He's going 274 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:51,440 to defend for the first time the European Junior welterweight title against Enoch Pulsen, 275 00:18:52,240 --> 00:18:56,119 a fight where when Adam won his last fight, Pulson was there ringside and 276 00:18:56,119 --> 00:18:57,759 got in the ring. That was also on Peacock a couple of months ago 277 00:18:57,960 --> 00:19:03,319 and they were doing their kickoff of the promotion thing. You have also probably 278 00:19:03,319 --> 00:19:04,519 one of the like I mentioned earlier, one of the best up and coming 279 00:19:04,519 --> 00:19:08,279 female boxers in the world, Carolyn Dubois, a lightweight, the younger sister 280 00:19:08,319 --> 00:19:11,960 of the heavyweight contender Daniel Dubois. Just give me your thoughts if you could 281 00:19:12,000 --> 00:19:15,039 on that main event that you have that that's been postponed, but now thankfully 282 00:19:15,039 --> 00:19:19,400 he's back on. Yeah, it was. It was the first show that 283 00:19:19,559 --> 00:19:22,880 was going to be on NBC. That's right, that's right, yep. 284 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,599 With five days ago, Danaze's has to pull out injured, you know, 285 00:19:26,720 --> 00:19:30,279 injured. It made the huge noise or a stink, I guess. Over 286 00:19:30,359 --> 00:19:34,480 in the UK, it was a it was a difficult moment to be honest, 287 00:19:34,519 --> 00:19:38,039 because it was a fight that really captured the imagination of the British public. 288 00:19:38,079 --> 00:19:41,160 It's a it's a huge London fight, you know, the both from 289 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:45,319 London, the both them in the city, the both I'm beaten. They 290 00:19:45,400 --> 00:19:48,559 both really really well thought of, the both extremely talented. So to get 291 00:19:48,559 --> 00:19:52,759 them at number one and number two in the WPA, to get them in 292 00:19:52,799 --> 00:19:56,319 the ring, to get them to both accept the fight against each other, 293 00:19:56,400 --> 00:20:00,039 even though they know each other so well. The storylines, the history between 294 00:20:00,119 --> 00:20:06,039 them, it culminates, especially over in the UK, for UK British culture. 295 00:20:06,079 --> 00:20:10,319 It's a it's a huge fight, and it's a fight that has world 296 00:20:10,480 --> 00:20:14,599 title as you say, connotations, and so it really has everything. I'm 297 00:20:14,599 --> 00:20:18,640 glad that Dan managed to get himself back on track. You know, we 298 00:20:18,000 --> 00:20:22,839 did consider a different fight for for Joshua Bawatzy if that wasn't the case. 299 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:26,559 But Dan is now fully fit and I'm glad for him that he gets his 300 00:20:26,599 --> 00:20:30,079 opportunity. I'm glad for Bawatzi that he gets his career defining fight, really 301 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:36,319 because the criticism with Josh he's not fought enough, he's not been tested enough. 302 00:20:36,599 --> 00:20:38,880 He was He's ticked as one of the most talented fighters in the UK 303 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:44,559 by by some way, but they want to see him in real fights and 304 00:20:44,599 --> 00:20:47,799 this is a real fight. So delighted for both of them, delighted for 305 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:52,680 the fans that were on. It's a huge night in London. You mentioned 306 00:20:52,680 --> 00:20:56,640 Adam Azim, who is well, let's let's before we get to let's just 307 00:20:56,680 --> 00:21:00,559 on Adam because you know, because we talked about it. I just I 308 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:03,599 have consider myself a fan of his. I've been watching him since he turned. 309 00:21:03,599 --> 00:21:07,519 He had his professional debut on a card that was actually on ESPN Plus 310 00:21:07,519 --> 00:21:11,960 is where I saw him for the first time. And you know, like, 311 00:21:11,960 --> 00:21:14,640 like you mentioned, he's the COO feature of this show with Bowatzi Disease. 312 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:17,119 But back to Bowatzi Disease, before we get to a eam, do 313 00:21:17,160 --> 00:21:19,160 you think there's a real chance at the winner of Bowatzi Disease, you know, 314 00:21:19,599 --> 00:21:23,880 in the near future will actually get a chance to fight perhaps the winner 315 00:21:25,480 --> 00:21:30,519 of Bevo and Better Be actually takes place. Look, there's one of the 316 00:21:30,559 --> 00:21:34,279 big British fights in the UK that's talked about and it's always been Buwatzi Yard. 317 00:21:36,000 --> 00:21:38,880 Yeah, that's a big fight over there. Danz has got somethee to 318 00:21:38,920 --> 00:21:44,039 say about that. Of course, you know WBA given as assurance that it 319 00:21:44,039 --> 00:21:48,240 will be ordered as a mandatory. The winner will be hopefully after the unification, 320 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:52,319 let's see who wins out of better against BiVO. But I believe the 321 00:21:52,359 --> 00:21:56,440 winner will fight through a world tide. So but I know that Anthony Yard 322 00:21:56,559 --> 00:22:00,480 is also looking at the winner. So there's a lot on the line and 323 00:22:00,519 --> 00:22:03,720 I don't want to pre add. You know, I guess the slight favorite 324 00:22:03,720 --> 00:22:10,640 over in the UK because of his Olympic pedigree is Joshua Bowatsu because of how 325 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:14,960 much he's achieved. But Danazi's is the active fighter. He's the one that 326 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:18,480 has come from nowhere, the one that has become a real fan favorite really 327 00:22:18,480 --> 00:22:22,519 in the UK, one of the most popular fighters over here that has had 328 00:22:22,519 --> 00:22:26,400 a career where he's gone through every single domestic title that you can win and 329 00:22:26,480 --> 00:22:30,240 really worked his way up and so in terms of form, in terms of 330 00:22:30,279 --> 00:22:37,079 activity, Danazi's is the one on the rise and the one hoping to take 331 00:22:37,160 --> 00:22:41,839 down the big name, the Olympian, the guy that people have such high 332 00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:44,920 hopes for. So it really is a fifty to fifty five for me. 333 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:48,240 But yeah, world titles, whether it's the winner of Bivol Better B or 334 00:22:48,519 --> 00:22:52,960 whether it's Anthony Yard, which is which could be a huge pay per view 335 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:56,480 event in the UK. That's what's on the line, all right. I 336 00:22:56,519 --> 00:22:59,079 don't disagree with anything you just said about that, but I actually like this 337 00:22:59,119 --> 00:23:00,880 matchup quite a bit. Now let's get to the co feature, which is 338 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:06,880 Azem and Pulson adam Azeem. I believe that star power. He's got swagger, 339 00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:08,839 he's got punching power, he's got a good personality. He seems like 340 00:23:08,880 --> 00:23:12,680 he's drawn a crowd at a young age in an early part of his career, 341 00:23:12,720 --> 00:23:15,519 already has been in a main event that drew nicely on one of your 342 00:23:15,519 --> 00:23:19,039 shows. He won the European title pretty impressively in his last fight. He's 343 00:23:19,039 --> 00:23:22,200 only what twenty one years old if I'm not mistaken, and really just seems 344 00:23:22,240 --> 00:23:29,519 like the upward trajectory for his career is almost unlimited. He also has a 345 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:33,480 you know, the sky folks on my understanding has just absolutely love him also. 346 00:23:33,799 --> 00:23:37,400 And now he's easily his biggest fight to defend the title against Pulson, 347 00:23:37,440 --> 00:23:41,799 who's a good fighter on that level. I know you have a lot invested 348 00:23:41,039 --> 00:23:47,799 in terms of time and energy and emotion into Adam Azim's career already. Yeah. 349 00:23:47,839 --> 00:23:52,359 I mean the fastest ever British fight is to reach a European title. 350 00:23:52,039 --> 00:23:56,960 Did that in ten fights at twenty one years old, So he's moving an 351 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:02,559 incredible pace. He's still a young boy. His power is phenomenal, his 352 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:07,400 speed is incredible to watch. But he's a very very hard working individual that 353 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:12,400 wants to win world championsships in record time. So when you look at the 354 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:17,119 future pay per uw stars in this country, and I talk about UK in 355 00:24:17,119 --> 00:24:21,559 that sense because you know, we've seen Ami can't retire recently, we've seen 356 00:24:21,640 --> 00:24:26,680 Kilbrook retire, We've seen we're seeing Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury getting to the 357 00:24:26,720 --> 00:24:32,359 final stages of their career. British boxing needs superstars and it needs future stars 358 00:24:32,359 --> 00:24:37,079 and Adam Museum is certainly well on his way and he'll fight he not Paulson, 359 00:24:37,079 --> 00:24:40,160 which is definitely his biggest test to date, and I think he will 360 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:42,160 be a delight for the US audience. I think we're going to see him 361 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:47,079 over in the US. He wants to emulate, you know, what Amic 362 00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:52,000 Khn did and go beyond amic in terms of titles, in terms of achievements. 363 00:24:52,039 --> 00:24:56,039 So he's someone that's we have huge hopeful and he's going to be fired 364 00:24:56,079 --> 00:25:00,559 for world titles probably within the next twelve to eighteen months. So we're trying 365 00:25:00,599 --> 00:25:04,599 to keep his feet on the ground, which isn't difficult given what an incredible 366 00:25:06,319 --> 00:25:11,559 athlete hears and person hears. But him and Caroline Dubois, who will have 367 00:25:11,640 --> 00:25:12,880 to mention, Yeah, that's the next one I wanted to ask you about 368 00:25:12,839 --> 00:25:18,559 because she's also on this card. She's also on the top. Definitely the 369 00:25:18,559 --> 00:25:22,160 most exciting female talent coming through in the world. I mean again, phenomenal, 370 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:26,519 both in the same gym with Shane McGuigan as well. She's the power 371 00:25:26,559 --> 00:25:30,519 as well. You don't see it a lot in women's boxing, but she's 372 00:25:30,519 --> 00:25:33,839 been knocking out girls left, right and censor and again twenty I think she 373 00:25:33,880 --> 00:25:37,559 turned twenty three yesterday. Still a baby. You know, when you look 374 00:25:37,559 --> 00:25:41,680 at women's boxing and you look at Katie Taylor and Tasha Jonas, who will 375 00:25:41,680 --> 00:25:45,160 have thought by the time this goes out, and Savannah Marshall, a lot 376 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:49,680 of them were turning over, if not in their thirties, just turning thirty. 377 00:25:51,400 --> 00:25:55,000 This is someone now and it shows the development of women's boxing that is 378 00:25:55,039 --> 00:25:59,039 turning over at twenty one twenty two, knocking people out and in Britain, 379 00:25:59,119 --> 00:26:03,200 she definitely is the future face of a female boxing and I believe the world 380 00:26:03,279 --> 00:26:07,079 so to have those two on the same card, I will also you know, 381 00:26:07,279 --> 00:26:11,839 being announced. Ben Whittaker will be now beyond that card. Who is 382 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:17,440 the Olympic silver medalist that people might remember throwing his silver medal down in the 383 00:26:17,599 --> 00:26:22,519 in the Olympics because of how much you know, achieving gold meant to him. 384 00:26:22,759 --> 00:26:26,480 He is the he is the flashy guy. He is the star in 385 00:26:26,519 --> 00:26:30,079 the UK that is, without doubt pay per view material. He's the guy 386 00:26:30,079 --> 00:26:36,799 that has created so much talking point in the UK around his career it's almost 387 00:26:36,799 --> 00:26:41,079 out of control. It's uh, it's he's definitely the future star over here 388 00:26:41,160 --> 00:26:42,200 is let me ask you. I want to ask you something about that. 389 00:26:42,279 --> 00:26:45,799 So I've been watching then I saw him in the Olympics. I've watched him 390 00:26:45,799 --> 00:26:48,839 on some of your events that you've had, and obviously the guy's got talent. 391 00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:51,720 He's got tremendous speed. That's the first thing that jumps out to me 392 00:26:51,759 --> 00:26:56,880 anyway. And I've seen the massive hype. Tell me if you think I'm 393 00:26:56,920 --> 00:26:59,119 wrong about this. I feel like at this stage for him, because he 394 00:26:59,160 --> 00:27:03,359 only has a handful, it's time to maybe tone down the crazy flamboyance and 395 00:27:03,400 --> 00:27:07,039 the NonStop, bizarre, crazy amounts of hype and get in the ring and 396 00:27:07,079 --> 00:27:11,200 get three four fights on your belt in short order, and and and take 397 00:27:11,240 --> 00:27:15,240 care of your foundation as a professional boxer before you get into the lunaticness of 398 00:27:15,279 --> 00:27:18,680 the crazy hype that goes behind it. Is that? Is that me just 399 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:25,799 being a grumpy old man or what? Look? I've known that a been 400 00:27:25,839 --> 00:27:30,119 a while now, and that is him. I know it's hard to believe, 401 00:27:30,279 --> 00:27:34,640 but he is a he's a maverick, he's a all the stars And 402 00:27:34,720 --> 00:27:38,759 that's always what I think. And sometimes it'll do things and now I'll look 403 00:27:38,799 --> 00:27:44,000 at his dad and we'll be sat ringside and we'll we'll look at each other 404 00:27:44,039 --> 00:27:49,200 because we know it's almost crossing the line. All the great to have a 405 00:27:49,279 --> 00:27:53,039 crazy side to them and have a side that you don't quite understand, but 406 00:27:53,119 --> 00:27:56,640 you want to. You want to see him develop the boxing part of it 407 00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:00,559 that you can always get hyped up and and and bring. You know, 408 00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,599 the flamboyants for sure. I mean we've seen it with lots of fighters. 409 00:28:03,640 --> 00:28:07,680 I mean I was a huge Prince Nasima medfan. But before he became the 410 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:14,720 outlandist Prince, he made his foundation as a boxer. No, first of 411 00:28:14,759 --> 00:28:18,559 all, he had a fantastic amateur career. Oh sure. One question is 412 00:28:18,599 --> 00:28:22,039 toughness, especially in that way division he's gone. He's gone around all of 413 00:28:22,079 --> 00:28:26,279 Europe, Peace and Europe, Russiazbekistan, fought the very best and extremely extremely 414 00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:32,759 well thought of. But he likes to fight like that. He enjoys to 415 00:28:32,799 --> 00:28:36,160 fight like that. He feels like it gives him an advantage against his opponent 416 00:28:36,200 --> 00:28:41,599 who doesn't know what's coming or going. And to be honest, I let 417 00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:45,359 him do what he wants to do. I don't want to change. Ben 418 00:28:45,359 --> 00:28:49,440 Whittik is going to be a star that everyone in the in the world knows, 419 00:28:49,519 --> 00:28:52,920 in the sporting world will know in a few years time. And yes, 420 00:28:53,039 --> 00:28:56,480 he's gonna have fans that, well, he's gonna have people that don't 421 00:28:56,599 --> 00:28:59,799 like him, He's gonna have people that like him. That's the type of 422 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:06,039 two years. But for me, what will shine through over time is an 423 00:29:06,039 --> 00:29:11,119 incredible fighter, one that's extremely resilient, one that works extremely hard. Are 424 00:29:11,119 --> 00:29:14,160 there going to be moments in his career where he's going to come under a 425 00:29:14,160 --> 00:29:18,240 lot of scrutiny. I'm absolutely sure of it. There will be people that 426 00:29:18,359 --> 00:29:22,559 will come to a Ben Whittaker fight, or perhaps by a Ben Whittaker pay 427 00:29:22,599 --> 00:29:25,160 per view if it gets to that point, that will do sort of see 428 00:29:25,200 --> 00:29:32,440 him lose. Would you agree with that? Sorry, monsir? Like like 429 00:29:32,480 --> 00:29:33,720 Floyd Mayweather used to say, I don't care if you're rooting for me to 430 00:29:33,759 --> 00:29:37,480 win or lose, just buy the pay per view. Yeah, And I 431 00:29:37,519 --> 00:29:42,359 think you know, we've helped promoter Wasson and boxing Chris Huby Junior and he's 432 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:45,480 a huge star over here and and a lot of that is built on that. 433 00:29:45,839 --> 00:29:48,400 I mean, will that be the same with Ben Whitaker? Maybe even 434 00:29:48,480 --> 00:29:52,559 more so. I think he's going to have a fan base. I think 435 00:29:52,599 --> 00:29:56,759 he's got a huge fan base in the Midlands, which is a place that's 436 00:29:56,839 --> 00:29:59,880 producing a lot of stars in the UK at the moment, so I do 437 00:30:00,119 --> 00:30:03,359 think he's going to be a guy that sells out arenas. But of course, 438 00:30:03,039 --> 00:30:07,839 you know, he's that flashy, he's that ridiculous in his antics. 439 00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:12,440 He's very up in the head. I think a lot of people over time 440 00:30:12,519 --> 00:30:18,400 are going to want to him. But naturally, with any star performs differently, 441 00:30:18,599 --> 00:30:22,480 or is outspoken or does something we've not seen before, he is going 442 00:30:22,559 --> 00:30:26,839 to come under criticism as well. All right, there's one more topic I 443 00:30:26,920 --> 00:30:30,319 want to ask you about, and that is you're involvement in the cruiserweight division 444 00:30:30,680 --> 00:30:33,599 and you are the promoter, like I mentioned at the top of this broadcast 445 00:30:33,680 --> 00:30:37,680 here that you are the promoter of the WBO cruiserweight champion Chris bill and Smith, 446 00:30:37,720 --> 00:30:40,519 who was a very fun fighter, exciting fighter to watch. You know, 447 00:30:40,640 --> 00:30:41,720 seems like a great guy. I've never had a chance to talk Tom 448 00:30:41,759 --> 00:30:45,279 or meet him, but seems very personal, makes good fights, a big 449 00:30:45,400 --> 00:30:48,799 draw in his home region, and I wanted to know. You know, 450 00:30:48,880 --> 00:30:52,799 he seems like he's got some things that are in store, whether it's the 451 00:30:52,880 --> 00:30:56,720 mandatory against Richard Ria Kopore, who you also promote. I've heard there's a 452 00:30:56,759 --> 00:31:00,119 possibility of maybe having a rematch with Lawrence o'coley, who he took the title 453 00:31:00,200 --> 00:31:03,599 off of in a in a good performance from him. What can you tell 454 00:31:03,680 --> 00:31:10,559 me about what's going on with Chris Billen Smith? As you said, fantastic 455 00:31:10,680 --> 00:31:14,960 guy, almost a fairy tale story. We picked him up eighteen months ago. 456 00:31:15,000 --> 00:31:19,640 He was arguably and maybe he was at European level. He was coming 457 00:31:19,720 --> 00:31:25,759 off two fights against Tommy McCarthy and went into a into an absolute war against 458 00:31:25,880 --> 00:31:27,720 Isaac Chamberlain, one of the fights of the year last year, which was 459 00:31:29,400 --> 00:31:33,279 which was amazing. But then he just went on this run where he's become. 460 00:31:33,839 --> 00:31:37,200 People may not know ever in the US there's a town called bomb. 461 00:31:37,720 --> 00:31:44,279 Yes, they're now in the league and the fans support that we have seen 462 00:31:44,440 --> 00:31:48,799 developed for him over the past eighteen months has been like nothing I've ever seen 463 00:31:48,839 --> 00:31:52,839 it. Well, you put the Accoli Fighter Stadium there, Oh, it 464 00:31:52,920 --> 00:31:56,720 was ridiculous. I mean I mentioned Ricky Hatton at the start of the at 465 00:31:56,759 --> 00:32:00,599 the start of it, and that was built because of his connection with Manchester 466 00:32:00,759 --> 00:32:06,519 City and he had a long he had a long build up and he had 467 00:32:06,599 --> 00:32:10,279 like twenty twenty five fights and he took him a long time and that's when 468 00:32:10,319 --> 00:32:15,920 he started to sell out stadiums. But Chrispiner Smith in the past eighteen months 469 00:32:15,000 --> 00:32:20,119 has gone from Isaac Chamberlain to winning a world title against Lawrence Coley, as 470 00:32:20,160 --> 00:32:24,240 you said, in his hometown football stadium sold out, and he's just been 471 00:32:24,279 --> 00:32:29,440 in an incredible journey. It has been one with delighted to have delivered for 472 00:32:29,559 --> 00:32:31,839 him and given him that opportunity. But did I think it would happen? 473 00:32:32,160 --> 00:32:37,400 Did I think he would go on this run. He's a type of fighter 474 00:32:37,480 --> 00:32:42,000 that never ever makes it easy for himself or was always in a fight where 475 00:32:42,039 --> 00:32:45,960 he's getting here. He's got incredible courage and he is incredibly talented, but 476 00:32:46,519 --> 00:32:52,160 he definitely gets himself in a fight and that's the only way he knows to 477 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:55,680 fight. And we saw that against Mittaus Masternaki before in December, and he 478 00:32:55,799 --> 00:33:01,680 was actually down on the scorecards by some distance, many things, and he 479 00:33:01,799 --> 00:33:06,839 managed to get through and master nakurt his and broke his rib and had to 480 00:33:06,880 --> 00:33:12,160 stay in the corner. But it's it's just been a it's been a it's 481 00:33:12,200 --> 00:33:15,559 been like a fairy tale that just hasn't stopped for him. So far and 482 00:33:15,519 --> 00:33:20,000 you get these stories sometimes in British boxing, and I think it's the only 483 00:33:20,079 --> 00:33:25,599 place where you do where you have these hometown heroes that aren't necessarily the most 484 00:33:25,680 --> 00:33:30,839 talented fighters, but with their support and with their commitment and with everything that 485 00:33:30,920 --> 00:33:35,720 they put in, it becomes a horrible place to go and fight against them. 486 00:33:35,799 --> 00:33:40,079 And he's ended up a world champion in the stadium and he's just been 487 00:33:40,160 --> 00:33:45,000 incredible and he gets the most out of his ability. He only has the 488 00:33:45,079 --> 00:33:47,759 one loss. I mean, BILLM. Smith is what nineteen wins with one 489 00:33:47,839 --> 00:33:52,400 loss and thirteen knockouts. His one loss was not in a championship fight, 490 00:33:52,480 --> 00:33:57,799 but he lost a ten round split decision in twenty nineteen to another one of 491 00:33:57,839 --> 00:34:00,400 the top cruiserweight contenders, Richard Ricop, who you also promote, who was 492 00:34:00,480 --> 00:34:05,519 undefeated, And if I'm not mistaken, that is going to be the mandatory 493 00:34:05,559 --> 00:34:07,800 assignment for Billin Smith at some point. Murk Porey is seventeen and zero, 494 00:34:08,119 --> 00:34:12,760 a good puncher, thirteen knockouts. Are we going to see that fight this 495 00:34:12,880 --> 00:34:15,840 year? Yeah, that's the next fight. That's the fight that's next for 496 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:20,400 both of them. It's the fight that Richard deserves as well, he's another 497 00:34:20,480 --> 00:34:22,920 guy that we've promoted for a while and his development has been incredible for me. 498 00:34:23,840 --> 00:34:29,800 I think outside Giopatai is probably the most fit man in the division, 499 00:34:29,960 --> 00:34:36,239 just because his punching power is and the way he's developed now where he just 500 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:39,960 sort of poises in fights and waits for his moment and it's just one punch 501 00:34:40,000 --> 00:34:44,639 and you're out. And he's done it so consistently now in his past few 502 00:34:44,719 --> 00:34:49,079 fights, he's he's worked himself to the mandatory of position in two governing bodies. 503 00:34:49,119 --> 00:34:52,760 He's he's taking this route and so we're going to see the rematch. 504 00:34:52,519 --> 00:34:57,199 The question is when are we going to see the rematch, and we are 505 00:34:57,280 --> 00:35:00,800 were speaking to Chris Billers Smith team the other over the weekend. We were 506 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:05,679 hoping to make it as soon as possible. I think he has got a 507 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:09,880 couple of things that he's recovering from from from December. Nothing serious, but 508 00:35:10,000 --> 00:35:14,280 it's it's delaying the fight ever so slightly. We're going to see it definitely 509 00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:17,440 in the in the first half of the year, and it's a it's a 510 00:35:17,519 --> 00:35:21,599 huge fight in Britain because it's a rematch, they've got history, it's for 511 00:35:21,679 --> 00:35:25,199 the world tits or it's something that Chris is, it's something that Richard believes 512 00:35:25,239 --> 00:35:29,679 he deserves. It's a it's a special fight for this country, and it's 513 00:35:29,800 --> 00:35:34,400 and it's and it's an intriguing battle, especially with with a punch power. 514 00:35:34,519 --> 00:35:38,079 With the punch power of Richards is something that could be pretty spectacular and we're 515 00:35:38,079 --> 00:35:40,239 good to see it in the United States and PEPA when it happens. I'm 516 00:35:40,239 --> 00:35:44,920 happy about that. Ben, Thank you, Thank you so much for doing 517 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:46,960 this, and I really appreciate it. Lader. We give the listeners a 518 00:35:47,039 --> 00:35:51,960 chance to hear about what's going on behind the scenes with Batterer, and you 519 00:35:52,039 --> 00:35:53,519 know, all your events and how you got into this is because you know, 520 00:35:53,639 --> 00:35:57,679 you guys are players, especially now having that you know United States, 521 00:35:57,760 --> 00:36:00,039 the old things. They so thank you so much for doing this. Thank 522 00:36:00,079 --> 00:36:04,519 you, and I appreciate it. My pleasure than you everybody that is Bench 523 00:36:04,599 --> 00:36:06,360 Loon a big boss man at Boxer