ENGINE ROOM ROOM

Anthony Leaver tells Matt Christie how he

became Matchroom Boxing’s Head of Media and

outlines the highs and lows of working for one

of the biggest promoters in the world

“At the moment we’re just a small fish in a very big

pond,” Leaver explains. “But I love it out here and we’re

already making huge progress. We know we can do here

what we did in the UK.

“Some people seem to want us to fail but I’ve never

understood that. We’re giving this everything we’ve got so

why would someone wish for that?

“The desire to see another promotional outfit fail is not a

desire that Matchroom shares or has ever had; when I hear

of a rival promoter having to cancel a show, I feel genuine

sympathy because I know how much hard work will have

gone into it. In the end, though, we just have to focus on

what we’re doing.”

The 37-year-old has come a long way since he joined the

company 11 years ago. Late in 2007, after studying to be

a journalist, he spotted a job advert in The Guardian for

a Matchroom Sport Press Officer, specifically to work in golf

and poker. Leaver remembers the interview well, when he

walked into a room at Matchroom HQ in Brentwood to

be greeted by a young Eddie Hearn and Matt Porter, their

chief executive.

“One of the main points of concern during the interview

was the fact I didn’t know how to drive,” Leaver recalls.

“The interview went well, but on the way back I got a ➤

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