Matchroom Boxing, one of the world’s leading boxing promotion companies, has announced a new strategic consulting partnership with Jay-Z’s Roc Nation Sports International — a move that aims to strengthen the sport’s global footprint and connect athletes to a broader cultural audience.
Founded by Barry Hearn and led by his son, Chairman Eddie Hearn, Matchroom Boxing has built a reputation for promoting some of the sport’s biggest names and events.
From Anthony Joshua to Katie Taylor, the company’s global presence continues to grow, hosting 16 shows in the United Kingdom, 12 in the United States, six in Mexico, six in Australia and several in the Middle East.
The announcement comes alongside Netflix’s launch of “Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen,” a multi-episode documentary offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at the fast-paced world of boxing promotion.
“This was a big moment for our company,” Hearn told Kelsey Nicole Nelson, host of Listen With KNN here on Fox Sports Radio, during an interview. “It was very real and it was the first time that boxing and the company really got the limelight.”
The series highlights the storytelling, emotion and spectacle that have defined Matchroom’s rise. Revealing the chaos of fight week to even the sting of defeat when one of their fighters comes up short.
As the sport continues to grow, Hearn has made it a priority to expand Matchroom’s reach and nurture the next generation of stars — a mission that includes British light heavyweight Benjamin Whittaker, who recently signed a long-term deal with the company.
“Boxing right now is red hot globally,” Hearn said. “I think there’s so much competition right now in terms of signing talent. The roster that you build ultimately means the quality of your promotional company and the quality of the shows that you do.”
A 2020 Olympic silver medalist, Whittaker has already made headlines for his electric ring entrances, charisma and showmanship — traits that have drawn comparisons to early-career Floyd Mayweather and Prince Naseem Hamed.
For Hearn, Whittaker represents the kind of crossover appeal that can help boxing connect with new audiences worldwide.
“We’re really the only global promotional company in the world,” Hearn said. “We have TV deals in all the key major markets in boxing. It’s really important for us to build talent wherever we are.”
Before the year wraps, Matchroom’s global tour continues with stops in Los Angeles, Monaco and Saudi Arabia — and according to Hearn, a potential show in Africa on Dec. 20 that would mark the company’s first major event on the continent.
That global mindset, Hearn noted, also extends to Washington, D.C. After promoting a world title fight featuring James DeGale in the nation’s capital, he praised D.C. as a “great fight city” and said he hopes to bring more major events to the area.
It’s that same vision for expanding boxing’s reach that led Matchroom to team up with Roc Nation Sports International.
Roc Nation Sports International, known for bridging the gap between sports and culture, made the pitch to Matchroom, emphasizing the value of storytelling and media strategy in today’s digital age.
“Roc Nation kind of sold us the vision of having the opportunity to make sure that we could have a wider reach with our fighters,” Hearn said. “We have to make these guys stars, we have to look beyond the world of boxing.”
Together, Matchroom and Roc Nation aim to take boxing beyond the ring — and into the global spotlight.
