Ben Shalom Explains Why It's Hard To Work W/ Matchroom, Status Of Azim vs. Smith | The MMA Hour

Ben Shalom talks about the BOXXER rise, how they ended up on Peacock, how he ended up as a promoter, if he has the respect of Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, why they are holding an event on Easter Sunday, if they could work with Matchroom down the road, Dalton Smith vs. Adam Azim, Ben Whittaker, his favorite promoters, and more.
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[@seg_fault_jim]

Ariel I have so much respect for you but this was really weak sauce. I don't know why the boxing media is softballing this guy constantly. They keep pulling out of purse buds and stopping these fights, why did you let him smirk and say nothing other than 'its difficult to work with matchroom'. Honestly that was disappointing. Please push him harder for some real answers next time.

[@lukemurray4950]

Because he his Jewish brother. Gotta cut the guy some slack. He doesn't normally have fellow Jews on the show. He is usually capable of supremacy of his people all on his own.

[@olliesmart4003]

Honestly it’s a joke everyone protects them, even talk sport do it every time they talk about boxer they just glance over it, but if it was matchroom or Queensbury they’d get drilled

[@sam-nw3zl]

Yeh I won't even watch this now

[@PaulB-tk4jb]

Rupert owns Sky and Talksport and a lot of say throughout media. Boxxer will be dust in 2 years. One card every few months. Without Smiths guidance Ben is lost

[@m4tky466]

Because he was protecting his fighters and his TV contract . It's no different to why until the Saudis got involved why fans were moaning that the best boxers never boxed each other . Why treat him any different to why Fury AJ wasn't made ??

[@mikematthews6095]

Ben sorry bud. I am from UK and it is not obvious to me what's going on. All I hear of you is want to work with other promoters but then pull your fighters out of fights. If you can't get your own way.

[@m4tky466]

No difference to AJ Fury , AJ Wilder , all promoters protect their interest , purses , fighters and TV contracts

[@derekcrawford1888]

This guy hasn't got a clue about promotion, and all he is known for in the UK is embarrassing his fighters by pulling out of purse bids on the day the bid is due. Boxxer is a joke company and has ruined Sky Boxings' reputation.

[@m4tky466]

Not really has he ? There is room for all promoters fights. Wardley vs Clarke Easter weekend brilliant fight . Buatsi azeez , billiam smith against RR again Clarissa Shields vs Marshall , Eubank vs Smith twice . I'm a fan of all boxing but this guy isn't embarrassing boxing . What's bizarre is the blind match room fans boys who believe every word Eddie says

[@derekcrawford1888]

@m4tky466 he puts one show every 6 months approx, and only the main event is usually worth watching all his prospects fight tomato cans. If that's what you like, crack on.

[@m4tky466]

@@derekcrawford1888 wow have you not watched UK boxing over the last 10 years on sky and BT the prospects have always boxed tomato cans that's how they build them up . How many 50 / 50 are the others boxers stable in early doors ?

[@derekcrawford1888]

@m4tky466 His so-called prospects are all olympians and should be fighting better fighters. Shalom should promote contraception, not boxing, as he is the master of the pull out. It's all about opinions , and I respect yours , but mines is that Boxxer and Ben Shalom are an embarrassment to their fighters. Joshua Buatsi and Okolie are 2 of the top of my head who quickly realised that they had made a huge mistake signing with them and the whole purse bid embarrassment to Fraser Ckarke and now Adam Azim is why the whole boxing community thinks they're a laughing stock. Have a good day, mate. I am out.

[@m4tky466]

@@derekcrawford1888 you should be Eddie's fluffer rather than a boxing fan Tell me who did AJ fight in his 7 th fight like Whittaker ??

[@stephenhogan8220]

I tried listening to this guy but it was more interesting listening to to Chael talk about burgers

[@VallieMusic]

the fact that Ariel gave the worst boxing promoter in history the platform is a disgrace

[@JBholmes420]

We know it’s you Eddie

[@tro1239]

Chill out lad, Shalom ain't great but you sound like a massive Karen 😂

[@m4tky466]

Matchroom bots out in force 😂painful

[@CC44998]

"The biggest shows around the world" 😂😂😂 Ben seriously mate...

[@jamiebayes5246]

He said it with a straight face as well 😳😂😂😂

[@simonhancock4949]

This guy is dodge central

[@olliesmart4003]

Never heard someone chat so much bull

[@freddiefreeman4119]

I love to work with them obviously, that’s why we keep pulling out of purse bids 🤦‍♂️

[@olliesmart4003]

Problem with boxer and sky is they are happy to work with promoters when it suits them, and fighters are coming onto their platform, but when it’s the other way round it never happens they don’t like it

[@kroxx2]

U know a weasel when U see one.. dude is cornball

[@swisscheese8628]

He can't handle the British media questions so goes to American mma media so he doesn't get any tough questions 🙈💯💯💯

[@diamondhands3525]

I don't know why boring Ben is talking as If he's made it and boxxer are doing well, in the UK there is rumblings of sky leaving boxing because he's done a terrible job thus far lol

[@m4tky466]

He's brought the biggest viewing figures to the sky platform ??? Not all but some of the cards have been great from Clarissa shield vs Marshall , Eubank vs Smith twice , Azeem vs Buatsi Great fights this weekend ?? Clarke vs Fabio Billiam Smith and RR to be announced The likes of Ben Whittaker , Lauren Price , Natasha Jonas . So many non boxing fans hanging onto Eddie's sound bites it's painful. Don't get me started on the Saudi cards who in the UK thinks they are good for UK boxing when we no longer get big fights on UK soil What was the last goog event matchroom put on in the UK ? Smith Zepeda ?? Forth coming Gill vs Barrett People signing the death warrant of UK boxing by promoting the Saudi cash grab

[@jmarsh5485]

listening to Shloam is like listening to paint dry

[@ORIGINOLINDIVIDUAL]

*Watching* .Paint does not make a sound when drying

[@bingusman69]

More like the Oy Vey Hour. This show fell off super hard.

[@MikePerry-bt9yv]

Perfect time to discuss the New York tunnels

[@alanwallace2487]

I'm from the UK even though he has the backing of sky he has wasted the money with poor shows with crowds booing his main cards. I've been following boxing for over 25 years & I have never heard of a promoter pulling out of a purse bid on the morning of the bid until Shalom doing it. He talks about Fraser Clark decision when that was going off Fraser Clark was humiliated for months on end & history looks like its going that way with Azim.

[@exodus1-12]

Eddie will be the dominant force in the future of boxing.

[@MattRuns]

The fight has been ordered by the bbboc so it's their crappy job as a promoter that has rushed him into that level, but now he's saying a european champion isn't able to defend against a british champion. No good

[@NanoVisionTv2]

16:45 Smith Vs Azim 👍🏽

[@johnstill9045]

Have to say totally disagree with a lot of the comments. Ben Shalom and Boxer are a very young and up and coming business and for me have done a brilliant job in filling the void on Sky Boxing when Matchroom made a commercial decision to leave Sky for Dazn. Boxing historically has always been difficult for new promotors, Warren when Micky Duff was in his prime, Barry Hearn when Warren was the main man, and now Shalom up against the giants that are Matchroom and Queensbury. Think Boxer are doing a great job and hopefully both Frank and Eddie will work more with Ben going forward,

[@freddiefreeman4119]

Like listening to boxings version of David Cameron

[@mikematthews6095]

Ben Whitaker. Will be fighting for an area title when he's 50. With this joker

[@johno9939]

He'll leave when Sky dont renew with boxxer this year

[@leeharlow5633]

What’s difficult about a rival promoter telling you that you can put his fighter on your platform for an ordered fight, and he will even top up his purse? The fact that you’re about to pull another fighter out of an ordered fight on the day of purse bids is just an embarrassment and completely unprofessional. Telling the world that a fighter that you’ve manoeuvred to become European champion so soon, but then turn around and say he’s a baby, not ready to defend his title, what on earth are you doing with him? Every time you do an interview, it’s car crash tv, which is why you’ve stopped doing interviews, stumbling your way through and tripping over your lies. How’s your face of sky sports wrestling, I mean boxing, working out for you? Having to farm him out for a bridgerweight title shot, just wow!!!!

[@gannonmanu09]

Any chance did ariel ask about the Adam azem

[@ORIGINOLINDIVIDUAL]

*ShadyShalom*

[@chapchappington2475]

Shalom Jackie.

[@simonbenton2457]

Unrated comment this😂

[@dancroker5498]

Ben is young and talented he’s doing a good job 👏 just because he doesn’t go with eddies narrative he gets criticised. Fair play to him let him crack on . I wish him the best .

[@adamabdulrahman2930]

Boxxer burner detected.

[@JulezX.X]

If anybody in their 30's tried to run a boxing promotion they'd have no chance.

[@Smokey2Mc]

He's a disaster 😂

[@johnmoran7228]

Snakey Shalom

[@ThomasSloan-kz9fu]

What's working with matchroom got to do with pulling out of purse bids on the day 😅

[@andreifeigbo9372]

I see why dana hate this Aril

[@liamroskell8055]

"It's difficult to work with Matchroom" Matchroom seem to deal with all other Promoter's, why does Ben find it difficult? Wouldn't have anything to do with Ben using inside knowledge from Sky Sports to approach Matchroom fighters? Regardless, with purse bids, you don't have to work with Matchroom. You just need to pay for the fight that has been ordered if you want it.

[@liamroskell8055]

@@JBholmes420 yet they've all made fights with fighters he represents or represented. Maybe you should take your own advice and scrub up on your boxing knowledge young fella. 🤔

[@liamroskell8055]

@@JBholmes420 if you believe Matchroom fighters haven't fought against Queensbury fighters before Turki got evolved into boxing, then you definitely need to take your own advice. Now run along boy because I'm not going to have someone that clearly doesn't know what they are talking about come and try to lecture me

[@lukemurray4950]

Matchroom is literally the best promotion and easiest to work with. They are not perfect, nobody is but to say them specifically are hard to work with is a stretch.

[@olliesmart4003]

They work with other promotors all the time? Sky only want their fighters to fight on sky they don’t like it

[@lukemurray4950]

@@olliesmart4003 Every promotion wants to have there fights exclusive but Matchroom does the most cross promotion events out of anyone.

[@Onlybadtakes2589]

How are you going to play against Paris

[@freddiefreeman4119]

Testing, are you having any?

[@CalRapz]

He believes azim wipes the floor with dalton smith this guys on crack 🙈😂

[@umarf786]

Azim definitely hits harder than Smith…

[@nickywass]

​@umarf786 does he bollocks let's see how he takes one against a big puncher all his opponents have been pushover

[@umarf786]

@@nickywass and Smith’s haven’t? 🤣🤣. Azim destroys everyone Smith has fought. They hyped a 34-year-old Zepeda on the decline. Azim would have done the same to him. It’ll be a good fight when it happens - but it’s a lot closer than people think. Azim power is underrated.

[@markdavis8430]

This guy come in like he was to new wave Not understanding the corruption in boxing now he’s just like the rest within 3 years 😂😂

[@m4tky466]

Can anyone name the big uk matchroom cards this year 😢 no me neither

[@user-pz4xe2ks3v]

Can anyone name a big Boxxer card EVER?

[@jamesoshea6062]

This guy lied in about 80% of this interview - sooner Boxer is out of boxing (off sky especially) the better

[@chisoninyoni7427]

This guy gets a big pass when it comes to questions...the Azim fight has been ordered by the board..its not just matchroom screaming about the fight..pull out the purse bid then. I like when he says he will be ready in about 3 to 4 fights which coincidentally when his matchroom deal comes to an end..same with Wardley fight

[@Steve0272.]

Plenty to criticise Ben for and i have done previously , but the way Hearn keeps poking is abit unnecessary and bad taste, especially considering his new found mantra of working together , Adam is a 20 yr old kid and clearly no promoter including Hearn would match him against Dalton at this stage , if you deal with dodgy feckers its reasonable to question your integrity wether thats this case or the irish crime family Kinnahansor his excellency chicken kiev in saudi , ALL should be questioned far more than they have been on this

[@lolade_akinola]

Weasle

[@Hypah]

“The MMA Hour”

[@BeatMystic]

cry more 😂😂

[@fthecasuals2212]

Well boxing is a martial art?!!!

[@MrAlan287]

Kinahan backed this lad with hopes he could launder loads of cash with shows on sky. shortly after the fbi went for daniel. its kinda left ben out his depth but he isnt doing too bad a job. he is right to keep his prospects in house like azim. if he focuses on stacked cards less often he could do well.

[@El_terrible1985]

Stop talking bollox not one big of that is true

[@user-pz4xe2ks3v]

Sky just counting foment be days til Boxxer contract is up.

[@SamirPatel-lj4jm]

Constantly pulls out, doesn’t work with other promotions

[@birggsyaimsey8064]

Shalom is a joke and is making a joke out of his fighters and sky sports never mind all the shady allegations continually coming out around him sky made big mistake letting adam smith go

[@theboxingshinobi]

Well well well if it isn’t the snake oil salesman himself Mrs Ben Shalom

[@EPPICFAIL42]

Unfortunately Ben has ruined the reputation of a lot of good boxers with the pulling from purse bids, Frazer Clarke should be a darling of British boxing, the press and public have turned on him due to poor decision making from BOXXER

[@islamhome6360]

Two jews my brothers respect to you both and free Palestine

[@Iceman497]

The Zionists trying to look after each other 😂

[@MrSmithBFD]

Ben EEEEERRRRRMMMM Shalom the snake.

[@user-wy8iu7hv8i]

This guy talks rubbish. Boxxer the only promotion not letting their fighters fight on other platforms . Sinking ship

[@SeenaAbedi]

I don't trust this guy and after some research, odds are that I'm correct. He is the opposite person of what he preaches.

[@FR33_PALESTIN33]

🌊🍉🌊🍉🌊

[@PaulB-tk4jb]

It's hard to work with matchroom. Maybe that is because shady Ben keeps pulling his fighters out of purse bids. Boxxer will be dust within 2 year's

[@JB-td9fz]

Ben hasn't a clue what he's doing. He's not paying for drug testing, he's dealing with dodgy convictes cricket match fixers and he's pulling his fighters out of fights... He won't get his contract renewed. Or sky will leave boxing. How's okolie the face of sky boxing career going ben?

[@jamiebayes5246]

Can’t believe you had this joker on, tbh soon as sky replace him the better nothing to do with him being new it’s him being useless just look at every comment on his interviews the only positive ones out 1-50 comments is from some family members of his 🙈 not me hating his doing a very poor job this card on Sunday yeah good but let’s face it should happen 8-9 months ago ,hope sky give job to wasserman or even that new guy from Sheffield anyone but shady Ben boy

[@georgehearn2024]

Reading the comments i wont bother watching this

[@MattRuns]

Shalom is so weak. He ruined Okolies career by promising things he never got, pulls out of purse bids, on the last minute.. He just wants it all on Sky and can't bring himself to losing a purse bid

[@uncletboxingtv1122]

Shouldnt have picked pocketed okolie and Buasti from Matchroom. Wasnt worth it

[@dankbuds-md5li]

Wtf kinda last name is that

[@olliesmart4003]

Shalom Jackie

[@SilkyBoo95]

This dude is a clown, he won’t be here much longer tbh

[@avanish6208]

Acting like he never got a leg up. He's only where he is because of the Sky Sports Deal. And that's only because Hearn left

[@I124q.....28]

Boxing biggest bluffer ben shalom ladies and gentlemen

[@chillibeef9947]

What's obvious is Ben talking nonsense! Talks about working with other promoters, yet don't have the balls to go into a purse bids. He has made Sky look like armatures in boxing. I doubt the contract will get renewed

[@Klo32163]

Terrible, promoter has no idea what he’s doing makes his fighters look like idiots and steals their chances of making money and progress

[@shanksy9219]

Rarely comment but this guy is such a dry lunch

[@JulezX.X]

Eddie Hearn's opposite. This guy had to take out a loan to start a boxing company, Hearn was born with a rich family. Why does he get so much hate? He's just a young promoter trying to make it

[@Steve0272.]

His actions are why he gets " hate " , that's seperate to how he started his business which most reasonable people would say well done for that

[@JulezX.X]

@Steve0272. You try and successfully run a boxing business and get every decision and move right, other promoters always have someone behind them to steer them in the right direction. There's been a lot of talk recently about bringing promoters together and coming together, Hearn & Warren / Hearn and Oscar. But they blacklist this guy.

[@Steve0272.]

@JulezX.X I have successfully run a business and made many mistakes and if they weren't highlighted or criticised i would likely keeping make them , there's a distinct difference between fair criticism and trolling/ hating , boxxer/ sky has few fighters the others are intrested in and they are doing well without them but they have tried to make fights previously so saying ther black balled is not accurate , naturally they will not want to help out a new competitor unless it benefits them , iv also previously stated hearn repeatedly going on about Azim is too much as its obvious why the fight with Dalton won't happen at this time as Azim is still basically a kid

[@JulezX.X]

@Steve0272. Of course you have, how did I know you were going to say you've run a successful business? What are the chances? But have you successfully helped run specifically a boxing company from the ground up? I don't feel as though the criticism he gets is necessarily fair. People attack his character. What does his personality have to do with anything? Even Eddie Hearn, at the beginning of his career, made some questionable decisions, even Oscar from time to time, makes questionable decisions, and it shows, because whenever Canelo or Ryan are around him. People are too quick to jump on a narrative & don't let anything breathe or play out. Everyone's becoming like Simon Jordan. Supporters of boxing and media really need to give their head a shake, I think deep down Eddie is a fan of Ben and respects him for becoming something from nothing. Eddie couldn't give a monkeys about British boxing anymore. Mr. Excellency has had his hand in everything, and that's the only reason why Frank and Eddie are doing as well as they are right now.

[@user-pz4xe2ks3v]

He should have taken the loan and starred a used car company

[@johnsmile434]

I think ben is just on a wind up 😂

[@timothypearce2633]

Has the biggest boxing media platform and largest gifted budget in the UK 🇬🇧 with Sky Sports, and single handedly ruined their boxing output in 2 years! Awful fights and terrible production! Hopefully he will come good but it’s not a great school report so far… Wants to be considered the disrupters but are the established players with Sky Sports backing

[@johno9939]

Theres levels to this game BTEC Ben, you cant compete with the big boys. Sky isn't renewing that deal with you when it runs out this year id get that money from those dodgy accounts while you can 🤣. Also They don't have an big names on the roster 🤣🤣

[@shahjaa4944]

Softball questions. Soft ball interview. Very very disappointing

[@LeePyke]

Why has Ariel platformed this joker?

[@curlyalb]

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