Matchroom’s chairman says Turki Alalshikh is helping rival promoters while owning Zuffa Boxing, creating conflicts few expected to see in modern boxing
Eddie Hearn says Turki Alalshikh’s ownership of Zuffa Boxing has created a unique situation in boxing, with one figure backing rival promoters while running a competing promotional company. Hearn believes the arrangement creates conflicts but has also helped raise the sport’s profile.
“Turki’s pretty open about that. If something suits Turki, he’s going to do it. If it doesn’t, he might do something that might indirectly [hurt] you,” said Hearn to The Stomping Ground. “He’s not out there trying to [hurt] everybody, but sometimes obviously he owns Zuffa Boxing, right? Zuffa Boxing is not Dana White. Zuffa Boxing is Turki Alalshikh. He’s getting us all together, and he’s like, ‘Eddie, I really want Matchroom to do really well.’ Then Zuffa are probably thinking, ‘Hang on a minute. You own our business. You’re helping Matchroom. You’re helping Queensberry.’ That’s just what he does because he does have a genuine interest in the ecosystem of the sport, trying to bring it up.”
Hearn acknowledged the contradictions are difficult to explain, but insisted they’ve become part of doing business in modern boxing. Rather than expecting promoters to operate with complete loyalty, he said everyone has learned to adapt to Alalshikh’s dual role as both investor in the sport and owner of a competing promotional company.
He argued that Alalshikh’s willingness to fund events across multiple promotions actually slows Zuffa Boxing’s own growth while benefiting the sport overall, even if it occasionally creates conflicts of interest. Hearn said he doesn’t agree with every decision Alalshikh makes, but believes his broader investment has raised boxing’s profile worldwide.
The comments offer a rare look at how one of boxing’s biggest promoters views the changing balance of power. Instead of portraying Zuffa Boxing strictly as an enemy, Hearn described the relationship as a complicated partnership in which today’s competitor may also become tomorrow’s business ally, depending on what serves the sport and Alalshikh’s wider objectives.
Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist who has covered the sport since 2014, providing ringside reporting and technical analysis of major bouts. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments, and the details that shape high-level competition.
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Last Updated on 2026/07/19 at 8:25 AM