Lee Eaton has been one of the leading bangers of the “bring boxing back pronto” drum.
The British Boxing Board of Control confirmed last week that it hopes professional boxing will be in a position to recommence in July. Due to the current global pandemic, the BBBofC envisages that the sport will take place behind closed doors and that cards will be restricted to a maximum of five fights.
Eddie Hearn, the head honcho of Matchroom Boxing, has revealed his Matchroom Fight Camp concept in which events will take place outdoors in the garden at Matchroom Boxing HQ in Brentwood, Essex.
And Eaton, the man at the coalface of MTK Global’s promotions, is eager for it to get back to relative normality sooner rather than later, having staged 27 events in Britain last year and four this year prior to the sport leaving many with a COVID-19-shaped hole in their fighting fix.
“The fighters have been brilliant with us,” Eaton told Boxing Scene. “It’s not ideal and we’re all looking for ways that we can get back sooner rather than later, but they understand that there is nothing that we can actually do and that we’re all going through the same nightmare.”
MTK Global, whose CEO Sandra Vaughan came out recently to reiterate that the company has no direct involvement with Daniel Kinahan, the Dubliner who was named special advisor to Bahrain-based KHK Sports, has broadcasting deals with iFL TV worldwide and ESPN + in the United States.
“We’ve just got to keep making the best of a bad situation,” Eaton continued, “and it’ll be horrible for boxing to take place without fans, but we’re fortunate that we get good rights fees for our shows.
“I’ll be honest, it’s not fantastic, but it’s enough for us to be able to use to put on a show. Financially, it’s not great, but it’s to keep the fighters active and everybody needs a bit of live sport. We are willing to do that, and I know Eddie [Hearn] and Frank [Warren] will be as well with their TV deals. It’s not ideal, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”
Warren’s idea of behind-closed-doors shows is said to be “quite far advanced”, with the plan being to host a minimum of one five-fight card per week.
Eaton, who has a loyal army of disciples who help him to run the shows –– some which have recently wound up on Sky Sports –– is just hopeful that boxing is back sooner rather than later, more than anything for his sanity.
“All I’ve done while we’ve been in lockdown is spend time on social media or been on my phone trying to get to the bottom of what the next step is. I’ve loved having the time with my family that I wouldn’t ordinarily have but even though I’m not ‘working’, as such, I’ve still been pretty busy.
“Hopefully, when it’s safe to do so, we can get the big fights back on, get the fighters –– especially ours –– in good, 50-50-level fights and get back to relative normality. Maybe I’ll stop drinking so much brandy then!”