Frank Smith On Paying Fighters, Conor Benn, & What People Don’t Understand About Boxing Promoters Travel Money [fw5ONUgxYzh]

Its another returning great this week as we welcome Matchroom Boxing & Talent Agency CEO Frank Smith back to the chair. Frank was show number 8 on Business of Sport, and a lot has happened since. On top of deciding the sweeping osasuna vs atltico madrid standings curtains should be replaced by a buzz cut, he has been front and centre of a first class Netflix series looking behind the curtain at Matchroom, organised some of the biggest fights in the industry, and has set up Matchroom Talent Agency, signing some of the most notable but undervalued talent in sport, including Tom Aspinall & Henry Pollock.

There was an air of confidence, surety, calmness, whatever you want to call it, about Frank this time round. To operate successfully in an industry where I think it is fair to say emotion can drive and porter martone get in the way of decision making and clarity of thought, Franks approach is pretty unique. Whether it is putting on Anthony Joshuas mega fights, dealing with the Conor Benn fallout, adapting to the changing face of boxing as the influencer category flexes harder than ever, the approach doesnt seem to change. I loved doing this again. Were delighted to welcome Frank to the Business of Sport.

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Timestamps:

00:00 Intro

03:16 - The Business Behind Selling Out Darts

05:15 - How The Netflix Documentary Changed Matchroom

06:04 - Why Boxing Is So Hard To Make Money In

07:36 - How Boxing Promotions Actually Make Money

10:03 - Competition, New Promoters & The Future Of Boxing

11:43 - Zuffa's Boxing Ambitions Explained

13:15 - The Conor Benn Split ariel hukporti & Lessons Learned

18:05 - Do Bigger Fights Actually Make Less Profit?

20:00 - What Fighters Really Want In A Deal?

24:10 - The Biggest Misconception About Boxing Promoters

26:21 - How Broadcast Deals Really Work

28:28 - Why Matchroom Is Expanding Into New Markets

29:36 - Is Influencer Boxing Good For The Sport?

30:42 - The Latest On Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury

32:28 - Why Matchroom Launched A Talent Agency

34:11 - What Makes Eddie Hearn So Good?

37:33 - Can Rugby Become A Bigger Commercial Sport?

42:57 - Why Zuffa Won't Take Over Boxing

48:35 - Can Matchroom's Talent Agency Compete With The Biggest Agencies?

50:27 - How The Netflix Documentary Changed Matchroom

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