Eddie Hearn has warned that boxing is under threat from the new craze for celebrity fights.
Hearn was speaking to the DAZN Boxing Show when he cautioned that champion fighters could no longer risk taking easier fights.
“We’re in a really interesting time for boxing, where you’ve got this other crazy world which is trying to enter our world and our zone, which is the social media world and the celebrity world,” he began.
“We’re under threat, under pressure as a sport.
“There’s nothing wrong with it, it’s just not boxing. It’s not the boxing we know. Unless we start making the big fights, this is going to become more of the norm.
“Because the people who pay, i.e. the platforms, are going to look at the numbers from the other world, and say actually that’s outperforming boxing. So when I look at things like Jake Paul and Ben Askren, we can all laugh at it and say it’s ridiculous, but if it’s doing numbers our sport’s under threat.
“We have to come up with compelling fights, we have to show people how great our sport is and for all those people moaning, you’re going to have to step up and have compelling fights.”
Hearn namechecked Jermall Charlo, who will fight Juan Montiel in defence of his WBC middleweight title instead of a fellow belt holder.
“When I look at Jermell Charlo against Montiel, that is a classic example of why boxing may be under threat. Champions fight champions - that is what’s supposed to happen."