Backyard Fight Nights: How Eddie Hearn Revolutionized Boxing During the Pandemic
Building an Arena in the Backyard
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and live sports events were canceled, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn found himself in a bind. He had already booked several fight shows, with venues, flights, and hotels all paid for. But with the government shutting down all live events, Hearn was left scrambling.
Sitting on the stairs of his childhood home, Hearn had an idea - he would build a fight camp right in his own backyard. He pitched the plan to his father, saying they would create an arena in the garden, hire a nearby hotel to serve as a bubble, and isolate the fighters for testing before ferrying them up to the makeshift venue.
Hearn spent around $3 million to construct the backyard arena, complete with hospitality tents, champagne bars, and DJ setups. Despite some initial skepticism from the local community, Hearn was able to work with authorities to ensure the events followed COVID protocols.
Bringing Boxing to the Masses
For four weeks, Hearn ran his "Fight Camp" series from the backyard, delivering the live content his broadcaster partners needed. In the second year, he even opened it up to 600 fans per night, selling tickets for the unique private experience.
"This got so much exposure globally," Hearn said. "When people say it was in your back Garden, that was even crazier." The backyard events allowed Hearn to fulfill his contractual obligations to broadcasters when other sports were shut down, keeping boxing alive during the pandemic.
Expanding the Vision
While the backyard events were a stopgap solution, Hearn sees them as part of a broader vision for the future of boxing. He's envious of the control the UFC has over its talent, with centralized contracts and matchmaking. Hearn wants to bring that level of organization to the fragmented world of professional boxing.
Beyond the ring, Hearn has also been working on a passion project - a fiction book he's been writing for the past 13 years. The book, which features a secret society testing future leaders, explores themes of history, technology, and the fate of civilization. Hearn sees it as a creative outlet and a way to share his unique perspective on the world.
As Hearn continues to push the boundaries of boxing promotion, his backyard fight nights stand out as a testament to his innovative spirit and determination to keep the sport alive, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.
Part 1/4:
Backyard Fight Nights: How Eddie Hearn Revolutionized Boxing During the Pandemic
Building an Arena in the Backyard
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit and live sports events were canceled, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn found himself in a bind. He had already booked several fight shows, with venues, flights, and hotels all paid for. But with the government shutting down all live events, Hearn was left scrambling.
Sitting on the stairs of his childhood home, Hearn had an idea - he would build a fight camp right in his own backyard. He pitched the plan to his father, saying they would create an arena in the garden, hire a nearby hotel to serve as a bubble, and isolate the fighters for testing before ferrying them up to the makeshift venue.
Part 2/4:
Hearn spent around $3 million to construct the backyard arena, complete with hospitality tents, champagne bars, and DJ setups. Despite some initial skepticism from the local community, Hearn was able to work with authorities to ensure the events followed COVID protocols.
Bringing Boxing to the Masses
For four weeks, Hearn ran his "Fight Camp" series from the backyard, delivering the live content his broadcaster partners needed. In the second year, he even opened it up to 600 fans per night, selling tickets for the unique private experience.
Part 3/4:
"This got so much exposure globally," Hearn said. "When people say it was in your back Garden, that was even crazier." The backyard events allowed Hearn to fulfill his contractual obligations to broadcasters when other sports were shut down, keeping boxing alive during the pandemic.
Expanding the Vision
While the backyard events were a stopgap solution, Hearn sees them as part of a broader vision for the future of boxing. He's envious of the control the UFC has over its talent, with centralized contracts and matchmaking. Hearn wants to bring that level of organization to the fragmented world of professional boxing.
Part 4/4:
Beyond the ring, Hearn has also been working on a passion project - a fiction book he's been writing for the past 13 years. The book, which features a secret society testing future leaders, explores themes of history, technology, and the fate of civilization. Hearn sees it as a creative outlet and a way to share his unique perspective on the world.
As Hearn continues to push the boundaries of boxing promotion, his backyard fight nights stand out as a testament to his innovative spirit and determination to keep the sport alive, even in the face of unprecedented challenges.