Ben 'THE BOMB’ SHALOM would like to use his Sky Sports warchest in order to bring explosive fights to British boxing and to maintain boardroom peace.
BOXXER promoter, Chris Eubank Jr., kicks off his new agreement with broadcasting giants.
Ben Shalom (third left) is only 27 years old, but is already mixing it up with big names such as Paulie Malignaggi and Anthony Crolla
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The UK fight fans are still reeling from Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua being cancelled and Watford's hero losing his world titles, so the new start provides some relief.
Shalom, a 27-year old promoter licensed by the board for three year, hopes to harness his unusual heritage to bring the sport out from the dark ages.
Let's hope that we can help end the feud between Eddie Hearn & Frank Warren which has repeatedly hampered fights such as the PS200m largest fight in British boxing history, currently still in the ashes.
Shalom laughs at the nickname and tells SunSport, "My grandfather was Syrian Jew, and my mom is a staunch Irish Catholic. I can recall going to Holy Communion with everyone laughing as my name was read.
Shalom can be used to greet people, but it also means peace. We are open to working with all and doing the best for the sport. We are open to working with managers, board members, promoters, and other people from around the world.
"We want to facilitate the sport's growth and make the biggest fights. Not having a huge ego will not help that."
Ego is a term that Shalom uses often to describe its understated company.
Shalom will need charm and lots of conversation to succeed his rival Eddie Hearn, who left Sky in June following a decade-long run leading streaming service DAZN.
He believes pride and self-interest - which often get in the path of contracted boxers competing on rival shows or broadcasts - are horrible traits that should be eliminated from the sport.
He said, "I am both a businessman" and an entrepreneur. "I believe in doing good, and trying to influence industries positively. It is not within my business model to chase fame or ego.
"I want to know how the sport can grow and improve.
Boxing is at its best, the most authentic sport in the world. However, the business often doesn't reflect the quality of the fighters or the truthfulness of the sport. We need to change that.
"Sometimes, the business, egos, and promoters get the sport developed and that is what we are trying not to do."
Shalom hopes that he can work with the younger generation of executives to revolutionize the sport.
Frank Smith is Hearn’s right-hand man, while Warren is supported and assisted by his sons Francis & George.
They are all a generation younger than some of the UK's most prominent promoters. The hope is that they will heal the rifts between fight fans and bring back the fights we have been missing.
Shalom said: "Breaking into this sport has been difficult. There is a reason why they have been dominant ever since the 1980s. So we have had to think smart about it."
"If I had arrived three years ago and started banging the drum, telling people that I am Eddie Hearn, then I wouldn't have been able to get this job now.
"Boxing must evolve, with younger people coming into the fold with a new view and a way of doing things that is less egotistical.
It's very difficult to try and push your way between two dominant men.
"I believe it's an important problem with the sport, and it is one that we are looking at breaking up and have managed well so far. We believe we can let the gas pedal down and promote fighters, shows, and teams."
Shalom is respectful of his older rivals, but he can't help but slip into his missionary mask with an anecdote from Hearn’s September show in Leeds which was streamed via the new service.
He said, "A few months back I received a question from a fan asking me when Katie Taylor was next fighting. It was only four days away from her world title defences in Leeds." "That is everything about boxing. It is already a niche sport, and it needs to be on all the major platforms in order to survive."
Free Bets: Get more than PS2,000 in NEW CUSTOMER DEALS"And if Sky hadn't recommitted, then I believe the sport would be in a much darker place."
Hearn and his new broadcasters were keen to promote YouTube/celebrityboxing when they first got into the hurt industry, but their enthusiasm seems to have diminished.
Sky and Shalom are moving into the big-money arena with the goal of helping old-school fighters as well as new-age celebs to share their tips.
He stated, "We want stars and superstars to be built on the Sky platform."
"We want to bring boxers to new audiences and not just funnel it down to one audience. We want these fighters get maximum exposure to become role models.
"We want YouTubers to be our teachers and help us bring the best into professional sports.
"It must be competitive. People have to respect the sport, the dangers, and train properly.
"If people take it seriously, and it's done in the right environment, then I'm all for it.
"Jake Paul would fight Tommy Fury, but Evander Holyfield was wrong a few weeks back. The sport and its fighters need to be protected."
Eubank Jr should win comfortably his headline act on Saturday, but fans should be aware of undercard prospects such as Germaine Brown and Mikael Lawal.
They are all talented, unbeaten, and promising, but they lack the immediate ticket-buying fanbase and OTT personality that catches attention of casual broadcasters and fan promoters.
They are being given a chance by Sky and Shalom, but they won't prove their worth until they can match their standing against stars from other stables.
Shalom stated that promoters can only take care of a limited number fighters. If you aren't in the right gym, management company, or have the right friends, you won't be given the chance.
"It is crucial for fighters to find someone who believes in them early on."
"There is so much talent that isn't being used and they need to shine without being part of a clique, management company with leverage over promoters.
"Promoters choose who and when they show up on TV, so it's amazing to be able give opportunities fighters who feel truly deserve them."
