By Harrison Baskind
LAST week in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was set to be the most important second of Ben Shalom’s profession.
With arguably the struggle of the 12 months topping the invoice, Shalom had managed to dominate the undercard together with his fighters. Not solely that, however he was additionally working with fellow selling rivals Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, regardless of earlier struggles to determine a working relationship with them.
What might probably go mistaken?
It began through the weigh-in between Chris Eubank Jr. and Kamil Szeremeta when Ben Shalom and Frank Warren appeared to have an altercation. Mockingly, comparable occasions happened between Shalom and his different rival, Eddie Hearn, on the Riyadh Season Wembley Version card three weeks earlier.
However, Shalom is accustomed to this; he has emphasised many occasions that his precedence is the fighters, not any form of pleasant relationship together with his foes.
The numerous harm got here on struggle night time.
Firstly, web sensation Ben Whittaker was anticipated to placed on an announcement win towards Liam Cameron. Nonetheless, the struggle ended unexpectedly after a weird conclusion to the fifth spherical, with each fighters going excessive rope, leading to Whittaker sustaining an obvious ankle harm and being unable to proceed.
The struggle was controversially dominated a technical resolution cut up draw, leaving Whittaker’s opponent, Cameron, feeling aggrieved as he was satisfied he had received. Whittaker’s efficiency not solely raised questions, however the way in which the struggle ended has led many to query the fighter’s coronary heart.
Shalom’s night time did enhance briefly as Chris Eubank Jr made gentle work of Kamil Szeremeta, knocking his man down 4 occasions earlier than forcing the stoppage within the seventh spherical. Conor Benn then stormed the ring, dealing with off towards his rival – which was comically overseen by Neymar.
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: Chris Eubank Jr vs Kamil Szeremeta, IBO World Middleweight Title. 12 October 2024. Image By Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing. Conor Benn confronts Chris Eubank Jr after his victory.
Jai Opetaia was the following man handy a loss to certainly one of Shalom’s fighters. He fully dominated Jack Massey, forcing Massey’s nook to tug him out within the sixth spherical.
The worst second of the night time for Shalom got here within the co-main occasion. The extremely anticipated rematch between Frazer Clarke and Fabio Wardley was anticipated to reflect the 12-round conflict they’d again in March.
Regardless of this, the struggle led to brutal style when Wardley knocked Clarke out within the first spherical. Shalom didn’t even get to look at the principle occasion as he went to the hospital with Clarke.
It has now been confirmed that Clarke suffered a number of facial fractures.
Whatever the varied struggle outcomes, working with Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren once more might have led to some type of relationship between the British promoters.
Consistent with Shalom’s night time, there nonetheless doesn’t appear to be one, and if there was already one, this has gotten worse.
Talking to Boxing Information On-line, Eddie Hearn mentioned, “The notion is that we’re all working collectively, however not likely but.”
Furthermore, through the media rounds, Frank Warren labelled Boxxer and Ben Shalom as a “Nightmare to Cope with.”
Nonetheless, a defiant Shalom reiterated by way of his personal interviews, “We (Boxxer) will maintain making an attempt to work with promoters. We are going to maintain making an attempt to make one of the best fights. We’re actually cheap individuals.”
While simply being on a card the scale of final Saturday’s was a giant second for the younger British promoter, it in the end was not an excellent week for him, and he might should navigate his approach via a troublesome few weeks as he prepares to work once more together with his rivals sooner or later.
Boxxer and Shalom return this night when younger prospect Adam Azim faces the skilled Ohara Davies in a super-lightweight bout on the Copper Field Area, London.
