Hearn: It’s our duty to support flawed BBBofC
PROMOTER Eddie Hearn has reacted to the threat of a split within British boxing by defending the British Boxing Board of Control’s (BBBofC) role as the sport’s governing body.
Over the last three months, rival promoter Frank Warren has built a controversial relationship with the Luxembourg Boxing Federation (FLB) who sanctioned Saturday night’s heavyweight fight between David Haye and Dereck Chisora and, as exclusively revealed yesterday by City A.M., is considering again using them because of the success he considered that show to have had.
Hearn, however, despite agreeing that the BBBofC has a flawed set up, regardless continues to believe drastic change to be unnecessary.
“I don’t see the need [for another governing body],” said Hearn, of Matchroom Boxing. “Unless we’re going to start bringing over fighters that haven’t got a British licence or couldn’t get a British licence, I don’t see the need.
“Every governing body will be moaned at at some point but I think in general, the BBBofC have done a fantastic job. They’ve represented the fighters, they care about the fighters. They’ve got their own rules and regulations in place which is supposed to benefit the members.
“Sometimes they get it wrong, but they’re our governing body and we’ve got a duty to stand by them.
“It’s all well and good saying they charge too much, but you want more people down there looking at the medical side, looking after the fighters. They don’t just appear, they have to be paid.
“[The BBBofC is] coming to a period now where they’re in a difficult situation. They’re under threat but, moving forward, I think British boxing is perhaps in a better state than it’s been in the last three or four years.
“I feel sorry for [general secretary] Robert Smith and the board because they have limited resources.”