For nearly four decades, the Hearn family has been a cornerstone of the global boxing scene, building Matchroom Sport into one of the most influential promotional empires in the sport. But with 77-year-old Barry Hearn now contemplating retirement, the long-standing dynasty could soon be facing a major transition — potentially involving a high-profile sale.
Barry Hearn entered the world of boxing promotion in 1987 following a successful tenure in snooker. His first major boxing event featured a heavyweight clash between Frank Bruno and Joe Bugner at White Hart Lane, which laid the foundation for a remarkable career promoting legends such as Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn, Lennox Lewis, and Naseem Hamed.
In the early 2010s, Barry passed the reins of Matchroom Boxing to his son, Eddie Hearn, while he turned his focus to the company’s interests in snooker, darts, and football. Since then, Eddie has overseen Matchroom’s expansion on a global scale, notably signing a landmark broadcasting deal with DAZN in 2018, which opened the doors to the U.S. market.
However, the recent emergence of Saudi Arabia as a major force in boxing — spearheaded by Turki Alalshikh — has introduced new business opportunities for fighters and promoters alike. Among them is the potential acquisition of Matchroom itself.
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In the new Netflix docuseries The Greatest Showmen, which follows the Hearn family and Matchroom Sport, Barry Hearn openly admits he’s considering the idea of selling the company — though he insists it would only happen under the right conditions. “I’m not going to gamble away my fortune,” Barry states. “But if the right deal comes along, selling Matchroom is not out of the question.”
Later in the series, Eddie confirms that Turki Alalshikh has expressed direct interest in acquiring Matchroom, telling his father: “I just spoke to Turki. He goes: ‘Just to let you know, please keep it confidential that we are trying to buy Matchroom.’”
Barry responded with a mix of surprise and cautious pragmatism: “So, what’s Turki Alalshikh saying about he wants to buy Matchroom? Where has that come from? Life’s getting a bit complicated… We’re entering situations we never anticipated before.”
He continued by emphasizing that any sale would be carefully considered and values-driven: “I’m planning my exit — not just from business, from life itself — and I want to protect my legacy. Anyone looking to invest in our company, no matter who they are, has to follow the rules. If Jesus came down, there’s criteria before I let him on the board. The same applies to Turki. It’s a major, major move — and there’s no rush. We’re not getting blown away by anyone.”
While Eddie Hearn continues to work closely with Alalshikh, he has previously hinted that his own retirement might not be as distant as some might think. Later in the series, he reveals that it would take $1.5 billion to buy Matchroom Sport outright — a clear sign of both the company’s value and the gravity of any potential sale.
Whether Eddie would remain involved in the business post-sale remains uncertain, but with the continued rise of Saudi involvement in boxing, Matchroom’s future could be entering a transformative new chapter.
