Top Rank founder Bob Arum recently criticized Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, accusing the British promoter of squandering his $1 billion budget with little to show for it, and labeling him a “joke” in the U.S. market.
In response, Hearn fired back during an interview with ID Boxing, claiming that Top Rank has essentially “given up” on promoting in the U.S. He also predicted that the company would lose its lucrative TV deal with ESPN. This article, originally published on December 4, 2022, delves into Hearn’s assertions and provides an updated look at the events and promotional landscape since his bold statements.
Hearn’s Criticism of Top Rank’s U.S. Strategy and Key Events
“I think Top Rank is finished in America,” Hearn stated. “I haven’t seen anything they’ve done this year that’s impressed me at all. They’re hiring out small arenas, and their ESPN numbers are shocking. They’re always booking smaller venues like the Virgin Hotel or Resorts World in Las Vegas, or the smaller arena at MSG.”
Hearn pointed out that Top Rank’s recent U.S. events have failed to attract large audiences or generate significant revenue. As an example, he mentioned that former unified champion Mikaela Mayer headlined an event at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, selling just 600 tickets, which amounted to a modest $37,000 gate.
Mikaela Mayer, an American professional boxer and 2016 Olympian, held the WBO and IBF junior lightweight world titles at the time of Hearn’s comments. Her fight at The Hangar in Costa Mesa, California, took place on April 9, 2022, where she successfully defended her unified championships against former world champion Jennifer Han (18-4-1, 1 KO) via unanimous decision (100-90, 100-90, 99-91). The event, promoted by Top Rank, was indeed televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes. While Hearn cited specific ticket and gate figures, the search results confirm the fight and venue but do not independently verify these exact numbers. The Hangar is described as a “small arena that is perfect for watching boxing.” Mayer’s career has since seen her move up in weight, becoming a world champion in three weight classes and a unified super-welterweight champion by October 2025, with a professional record of 22 wins and 2 losses (5 KOs).
Hearn’s Predictions for Top Rank and ESPN: The Outcome
“They’re going to Turning Stone next for Efe Ajagba against Oscar Rivas. I think they’ve given up. They’ve probably realized that ESPN isn’t going to renew their contract,” Hearn said. He went on to mock Top Rank by suggesting, “Top Rank? More like Top Wank.”
The Matchroom chairman criticized Top Rank’s choice of fights, using Ajagba vs. Rivas as an example of the company’s declining promotional efforts in the U.S. Hearn believes that such events signal a weakening interest from ESPN, predicting that the network will not renew its contract with Top Rank due to declining TV ratings.
The heavyweight bout between Efe Ajagba and Oscar Rivas was indeed scheduled by Top Rank for January 14, 2023, at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York. At the time, Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas (28-1, 19 KOs) was the reigning WBC Bridgerweight champion, though this fight was set for the heavyweight division. Rivas had been inactive for over a year, with his last fight being a unanimous decision victory over Ryan Rozicki in October 2021 for the inaugural WBC bridgerweight title. Efe “The Silent Roller” Ajagba (16-1, 13 KOs), a powerful 2016 Nigerian Olympian, was looking to build momentum after recovering from elbow surgery and securing a second-round stoppage victory in August 2022. His sole professional loss had come against Frank Sanchez in October 2021.
However, the anticipated Ajagba-Rivas fight never materialized. In December 2022, Oscar Rivas was forced to withdraw from the bout due to an eye injury sustained during sparring. Consequently, Efe Ajagba faced Stephan Shaw on January 14, 2023, winning by unanimous decision. Ajagba’s current professional record stands at 21 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw (15 KOs).
The Shifting Promotional Landscape and ESPN’s Decision
Despite Hearn’s bold remarks in late 2022, there was little immediate evidence to support the notion that ESPN was planning to part ways with Top Rank. While Top Rank had lost some major U.S. attractions, such as Terence Crawford and Tyson Fury’s recent fights taking place in the UK, ESPN’s viewership had remained relatively steady.
However, Hearn’s prediction regarding Top Rank’s ESPN deal ultimately proved accurate. ESPN did not renew its long-standing eight-year partnership with Top Rank, which had commenced in 2017 and concluded in August 2025. This decision led to Top Rank’s exit from linear television in the United States, reflecting a broader trend in boxing where major promotions are increasingly moving towards over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms.
In the aftermath of the ESPN deal’s expiration, Top Rank reportedly finalized a multi-year media rights deal with the sports streaming service DAZN in March 2026. This new agreement is expected to provide Top Rank with 8 to 10 primary events annually. Interestingly, Top Rank remains in discussions with ESPN for a potential return, possibly involving a reduced number of events focused on high-profile fights.
High-Profile Fighters: Crawford, Fury, and Their Trajectories
The promotional landscape for elite fighters has also seen significant changes since Hearn’s comments. Terence Crawford, who had previously signed a multi-year agreement with Top Rank in 2018, became a promotional free agent in November 2021. He later stated that his contract with Bob Arum’s Top Rank had a detrimental effect on his career. Since his departure, Crawford’s career has flourished. He became the undisputed welterweight champion by defeating Errol Spence Jr. in July 2023 and achieved four-weight world champion status by beating Israil Madrimov in August 2024. Crawford announced his retirement from boxing in December 2025, stating he had nothing left to prove.
Tyson Fury, another major attraction, has primarily been promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, though Top Rank co-promoted some of his significant bouts, such as those against Deontay Wilder. Fury’s career has been marked by high-profile fights, including two losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. He initially announced his retirement in early 2025 but subsequently declared his intention to return to boxing in 2026. His fights continue to draw massive attention, often taking place in the UK or Saudi Arabia, highlighting the global nature of top-tier boxing promotion beyond a single U.S. market focus.
The boxing world remains dynamic, with promotional companies constantly adapting to evolving media landscapes and fighter allegiances. While Eddie Hearn’s criticisms of Top Rank’s U.S. strategy were sharp, the subsequent years have shown a complex reality where some of his predictions, particularly regarding the ESPN deal, came to pass, while the careers of fighters like Crawford and Fury
