An unintended comment by Eddie Hearn may have landed him in hot water. The Matchroom Boxing boss has been working closely with the Riyadh Season head, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, for some time now. Their collaboration brought to life unique events, including last year’s blockbuster where five of Matchroom’s top fighters clashed with Queensberry Promotions’ best talents.

Through his efforts, HE Alalshikh has undoubtedly become one of boxing’s most powerful and influential stakeholders. His contributions have breathed new life into the sport, and his commitment deserves recognition. However, as fans often note, words matter – and sometimes the wrong choice can overshadow the message. Hearn is currently in the United States, preparing for two Matchroom cards scheduled for January 25. In a conversation with Sean Zittel, the two discussed the state of boxing, particularly in the U.S., and its shifting dynamics.

Eddie Hearn: My words carry more depth than they may seem

“In America, all promoters are struggling with the sport pretty much. I mean, we had some big fights, Ryan and Tank, but, you know, it’s not 2002; it’s 2025, so what do you think about it?” asked Zittel, referring to the challenges facing boxing today.

Hearn sought clarification – whether Zittel hinted at HE Alalshikh’s arrival in boxing. Zittel affirmed. Hearn responded by arguing that boxing is in a golden era, with plenty of marquee fights being made. He urged fans to celebrate the sport’s growth instead of fixating on where the events are held. “Like that Feb 22nd card, if I did that card, we might go out of business… it’s insane,” he highlighted.

Despite his optimism, Zittel raised concerns. He questioned whether Riyadh Season’s immense spending created an unsustainable model that smaller promoters couldn’t emulate. Hearn acknowledged the risks, emphasizing the need to stay grounded and deliver high-quality shows with a viable business plan.

However, while discussing the competition among promoters, Hearn made a statement that sparked significant reactions. He described his pragmatic approach to working with HE Alalshikh, saying, “I have no problem working for His Excellency. If he asked me to clean his shoes, I would probably do it.”

The comment left Zittel visibly surprised and has since drawn mixed reactions from fans online. Let’s take a closer look at how fans interpreted Hearn’s remarks.

Growth or Compromise Amid Power Dynamics

One fan felt Hearn’s choice of words crossed a line. They said, “Yes, that “clean his shoes” line was a bit much.” They likely saw the comment as overly submissive and believe Hearn could have expressed respect for HE Alalshikh’s influence without using such a metaphor.

Another fan echoed similar sentiments. “I get what he’s saying, but I don’t know about the whole cleaning shoes shit lol that’s a bit too far,” they said. They acknowledged Hearn’s intent to highlight HE Alalshikh’s immense clout. But the metaphor seemed unnecessarily self-deprecating.

One follower took a more critical stance. “The fact that you would do anything for a dollar doesn’t mean you’re humble 😂😂,” they said. This fan saw Hearn’s comment as less about humility and more about opportunism. Perhaps his willingness to ‘clean shoes’ reflects how far he’ll go to secure financial benefits.

Some fans, however, focused on the bigger picture. One wrote, “I don’t care what they do, as long as we get the fights.” This perspective highlights the belief that the means don’t matter as long as boxing fans are treated to big fights. It reflects a pragmatic approach. Accept the compromises of the business side as long as the sport thrives.

Another fan criticized the backlash itself. “Everybody focused on Eddie saying he would clean shoes instead of the whole actual point of what he was talking about. Wooooosh,” they said. It’s nothing but mere nitpicking. The real takeaway should be Hearn’s recognition of the significant role Saudi Arabia is playing in boxing’s future.

Eddie Hearn nevertheless dismissed claims of being a ‘sellout.’ He framed his approach as simply recognizing opportunities and maximizing benefits for fighters, fans, and the sport itself.

There’s no denying that HE Turki Alalshikh and his team have injected fresh energy into boxing. Thanks to their efforts, many long-awaited fights that fans feared would never happen are now a reality. But the debate over Hearn’s comments highlights a broader discussion: Should boxing’s global expansion and the compromises it requires be celebrated or critiqued?

What do you think – was Hearn’s ‘clean his shoes’ comment a misstep, or does it reflect his pragmatic approach to the business of boxing?