Eddie Hearn doubts he can coax Adrien Broner into a promotional deal, despite the latter’s free agency.
In a recent interview, the head of Matchroom Boxing was asked to consider the prospect of entering into a partnership with the popular and brash multi-weight champion from Cincinnati, Ohio.
Hearn made it clear that while he is still high on Broner as a prizefighting attraction, he believes that “The Problem” has certain financial expectations that Hearn simply cannot satisfy.
Broner, 33, announced on his social media several days ago that he had parted ways with boxing newcomer BLK Prime, a pay-per-view streaming platform. Their short-lived partnership came to an end without a single fight after Broner’s projected debut was plagued by multiple opponents dropping out.
Broner (34-4-1, 24 KOs) was scheduled to fight late replacement Michael Williams Jr. on Feb. 25 at the Gateway Center Arena in Atlanta, but the fight had to be postponed with a week to go after Williams suffered a jaw injury in sparring. A few days later, Broner went on his Instagram to announce that his union with BLK Prime had reached an amicable end.
Hearn, who has shown great interest in working with Broner in years past, said that his enthusiasm for that union has waned in recent years.
“I don’t know,” Hearn said on The DAZN Boxing Show. “There was a time when I was desperate to sign Adrien Broner. I thought he was amazing. When I saw Adrien Broner defeat Gavin Rees for the WBC lightweight world title in Atlantic City 10 years ago [in 2013], he was one of the best fighters I had ever seen.”
Hearn said various people have suggested that he look into promoting Broner, but Hearn is apparently not convinced that he can woo a fighter accustomed to garnering outsize paydays. Broner stated previously that his multi-bout deal with BLK Prime would have netted him an “eight-figure” sum.
Hearn, however, has repeatedly mentioned Broner as a possible opponent for his embattled welterweight charge Conor Benn. In 2021, Hearn said Broner rejected multiple offers for him to fight Benn.
Broner stated in an interview last year that he left his longtime backers, Premier Boxing Champions and Showtime, because he was unhappy with the change in their pay scale.
“I’ve had three or four messages from the last week to get me to work with Adrien Broner,” Hearn said. “He has value. He’s still a good fighter.
“But I just feel there’s a price and there’s a value and it’s probably not one that Adrien would agree with. I think he would struggle to accept that. Obviously, he’s made a lot of money, he’s been involved in some big fights, but he’s not the draw that he once was. He’ll always be a draw because he’s got a great story. “