2024 has been another outstanding year for Matchroom Boxing, with the promotion going from strength to strength both in terms of new signings and events – but what’s been the best of the bunch?
In a fascinating look back at the last 12 months, Matchroom stars Eddie Hearn, Tony Bellew, Sunny Edwards, David Diamante, Darren Barker and Mike Costello reveal their favorite boxing events of 2024.
‘Event of the Year’ sparks debate between Eddie Hearn and boxing icons
If you find yourself with a spare 42 minutes or so this New Year’s, we’d highly recommend watching Matchroom Boxing’s fabulous 2024 review, featuring six of the best minds in the game.
The first question put to the group was ‘Which event was their one, single, personal favorite of the whole year’ – with Matchroom Boss Eddie Hearn, of course, offering three answers as “You know I like to string things out a little bit right…
“We’re talking event right, we’re talking about spectacle and moment – [Anthony] Joshua against [Francis] Ngannou, Fury vs Usyk [one], and Joshua against [Daniel] Dubois… But my 2024 ‘Event of the Year’ is Fury against Usyk – I don’t even have a fighter in that race.
“I was completely gripped by greatness, the undisputed heavyweight world championship. And I thought the fight was going to be s***, two guys who are fiddly, reactive, good counterpunchers and it was just a brilliant heavyweight fight.”
It should be noted that this recap was conducted before the Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury rematch, although not a single boxing icon sat around the table agreed with Eddie Hearn anyway.
Instead, four of the next five superstar guests all picked Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois, which went down at Wembley Stadium in September in front of 96,000 screaming fans.
Sunny Edwards: “I think AJ vs Dubois, Riyadh Season at Wembley – that was a great rollercoaster, and I was a part of it, so I’m going to say that.”
Mike Costello: “It’s the big show at Wembley, because in boxing, we don’t have nights, occasions, or events like that, with a crowd like that, with a bill like that. Everything about that night was massive and I think it was so much bigger than anything else this year.”
David Diamante: “I think it has to be AJ vs Dubois; I think there’s no question that fight was so enormous, that event – and I think it was almost so big that it took AJ [out of it].”
Tony Bellew: “Obviously, I think that the Dubois vs Joshua fight was the big event, no one can beat it. I mean you’ve just got to look at who was singing between fights – one of the Gallaghers is nuts. It was a huge spectacle and show.”
Back to Eddie Hearn, who noted that being a fan in that enormous crowd must have been an incredible experience, even if it wasn’t the greatest feeling watching his star client knocked out.
“Imagine being a punter there and just going like ‘Oh my god’ – because it was thrilling wasn’t it; it was brutal, and it was one-sided, but it was still thrilling… Event-wise, that’s right up there [all-time], but enjoyment-wise it was right down at the bottom.”
And finally, we come to Darren Barker, who couldn’t help but get at least one sneaky jab in at the Matchroom Boss as he reminisced about Frank Warren’s demolition at the 5v5 event in June.
“I have to bring it up Ed and I’m sorry, but the whole concept of a promoter vs a promoter – that was special.”
- REVEALED: Anthony Joshua’s two comeback opponents named as Eddie Hearn maps out perfect 2025 for ex-champion
What do you think about the top 3: Joshua vs Dubois, Usyk vs Fury 1, and the Five vs Five, would you put any other boxing event above them for 2024?