Boxxer Promoter Ben Shalom Is Mending An Entire Sport

On September 24th, two giants will collide for the next shot at heavyweight supremacy in Manchester’s AO Arena. This mouth-watering clash wouldn’t have happened without Boxxer’s promoter, Ben Shalom.

In boxing, fans often pay the price for the industry’s politics with conflicts between promoters or television broadcasts. It seemed for the longest that the sport needed an open-minded, modest individual with no ego to set a positive tone for how there’s always room for all sides to eat when making the fights that everyone wants to see.

Queensberry promoter Frank Warren is a bonafide legend and unquestionably one of the great promoters in our sport. So, with him being in the sport for the longest, rightfully so, he can surely be cautious and skeptical of any new promoter on the field. However, Warren acknowledged the effort and determination of Shalom to make the desired fights happen.

Think about this: Britain’s two biggest rival broadcast networks are collaborating to make a fight that’s not for the mainstream viewers but purely for the hardcore boxing fans. This is monumental for the sport. Again, if it wasn’t for Shalom accepting a one-fight deal on BT Sport, we wouldn’t be discussing this matchup.

“I’ve said it before. Sometimes, the sport has to come before the business, and it makes a lot more sense business-wise for us to keep him on Sky, but this is a big fight for Joseph.”

Business aside, what an unbelievable clash of styles this fight offers. Even though the odds suggest that Joyce is a slight favourite, this fight might very well be tailor-made for New Zealand’s Joseph Parker.

An honest take: Joe Joyce is one of the best, most effective heavyweights in the world, but he’s also one of the slowest, most predictable heavyweights in the world. Moreover, Joe Joyce turns 37 this month. So, in all actuality, how much better can Joyce really get? On the other hand, Parker is officially the youngest heavyweight in the top 10. His performances show it.

I have to be transparent; I thought Derek Chisora decisively beat Parker in their first clash. However, the adjustments in style Parker made with Andy Lee were a sight to behold. And for as much as people don’t like to give Chisora his flowers, I believe he defeated Usyk two years ago on October 31st. Also, Derek wasn’t credited with a knockdown over Usyk in the fourth, even though Finchley’s legend did drop the Ukrainian. Chisora was even conquering Whyte before the knockout happened. So, in all actuality, Parker was the only man to outfight Chisora since Fury did almost a decade ago.

To a certain extent, Parker’s last fight against Chisora was almost the perfect final step or tune-up before facing the style Joyce possesses. In fact, Derek Chisora has better head movement than Joyce. Moreover, Chisora is much faster and explosive in close spots. It’s the durability that makes Joyce a rigid wall that seems unbreakable. However, at some point, something has to give, and it’s only a matter of time for Joyce’s chin to be compromised from all the heavy, flush shots he takes in sparring and on live television from giants who weigh over 250 lbs.

Regarding records, I think Parker’s resume shows that he might very well have had the most gruelling schedule in heavyweight boxing. In around five years, he fought Ruiz, Joshua, Whyte, Chisora twice, Hughie Fury, and now Joyce potentially twice. Remarkable. On the other hand, what were Joyce’s best two wins? 21-year-old inexperienced Dubios and Christian Hammer? Well, that’s quite a Vast difference.

Still, despite Joyce’s massive lack of defence and speed, his size, durability, and mental fortitude makes this a compelling shoot-out that will have us all on the edge of our seat.

If Parker wants to win this fight, he must fight the way he did in the Chisora rematch. Boxing from the perfect mid/outside range he creates with his jab and utilizing his footwork. But more often than not, Parker must hold his ground to earn respect. If only Joseph Parker believed in his power the way his team does. Joyce will be there to get hit all night, but he’s also gonna keep hunting all night for the knockout. Again, what a fantastic stylistic clash.

This fight would have been dead & gone if Ben Shalom wasn’t in the equation. Most importantly, a point was made for all fighters; signing with Boxxer doesn’t mean they’ll only provide you solely with the best options they have in their stable. No, they’ll provide you with the best option no matter where it is. Period.

“I think promoters need to understand that boxing isn’t a sport that you can own, and trying to put people out of business and be insulting and something like that just doesn’t help the sport. I think we saw eye-to-eye on that. I think that if promoters can work together and try to put egos aside and try to do what makes sense, then the sport will be in an unbelievable place over the next twelve months.”