Hearn and De La Hoya Trade Barbs Over Matchroom
In October 2024, Eddie Hearn answered Oscar De La Hoya’s criticism of Matchroom Boxing and its U.S. business. De La Hoya cited a run of losses among Hearn’s fighters; Hearn countered that Matchroom had signed prominent American boxers and pointed to Golden Boy’s departures of Canelo Álvarez and Jaime Munguía. The exchange was promoter rhetoric, not an independent measure of either company’s strength.
What sparked the exchange
The immediate dispute came after De La Hoya criticized Hearn’s 2024 record as a promoter, pointing to losses suffered by several Matchroom fighters and accusing Hearn of poor management. Hearn responded publicly, disputing the criticism and naming Shakur Stevenson, Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez as U.S.-based talents associated with Matchroom. The claims were part of a continuing rivalry between two rival promoters competing for fighters, attention and major events.
The roster argument needs context
Hearn also cited Canelo Álvarez and Jaime Munguía as examples of Golden Boy’s departures. The timelines differ: Canelo left Golden Boy in 2020, while Munguía and his promoter Zanfer agreed to a multi-fight co-promotional deal with Top Rank in July 2024. That arrangement did not mean Munguía simply became an exclusive Top Rank fighter, so Hearn’s description should be understood as a jab in a promotional dispute, not a complete account of the business relationship.
De La Hoya’s tally of 14 losses likewise reflected his own accounting and framing. A fighter’s defeat can affect a promoter’s momentum, but it does not by itself show that the promoter has failed: opponents, injuries, matchmaking and the risks fighters accept all matter. Neither side offered a neutral comparison of budgets, event revenue, audience reach or fighter outcomes across the two companies.
A rivalry built around business and personality
The dispute has roots in the competitive U.S. market and in the movement of marquee fighters between promotional homes. Hearn’s Matchroom expanded its U.S. slate through deals with American stars, while Golden Boy continued to promote its own roster and work with other partners. Both men have used public interviews and social media to challenge the other’s record, making their feud part business competition and part personal showmanship.
The October 2024 exchange did not settle which company had the stronger position. It showed how promoters use wins, losses and signings to make a case to fighters and fans. The clearest way to judge their claims is to examine specific contracts, event results and business terms rather than accept either promoter’s headline tally at face value.
Sources: Boxing Social’s report on the October 2024 exchange; ESPN on Munguía’s Top Rank co-promotional deal; The Ring on the 2024 agreement; Matchroom on Rodriguez’s 2024 promotional deal.
Sources
Tags: Boxing, Combat Sports
