Eddie Hearn calls Liam Dillon's match with Reece Bellotti a 'British classic' in advance of NXTGEN’s seventh anniversary

NEARLY seven years ago, Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing made a decision that would change the futures of prospects for years to come.

For years, the promotion had performed a juggling act balancing showcasing their prospects' respective rises up the ranks on big shows and filling cards with pay-per-view worthy fights.

An Innovative Solution for Up-and-Coming Fighters

Matchroom Boxing began their NXTGEN shows back in March 2017. The series has been a rip-roaring success, helping make the likes of previous unknowns Felix Cash, Jordan Gill, and Galal Yafai household names.

Eddie Hearn's Pride and Joy

And to say NXTGEN is one of Hearn's proudest achievements during his time at the Matchroom helm would be a major understatement.

He told SunSport: "It's been great because a lot of the younger generation don't get the opportunity to fight deep on the card. You've got guys that are headlining and co-main eventing. The pressure of being in the press conference this week as the main event or a TV fight, a lot of guys that you bring through fight at five o'clock, six o'clock and you want to try to get them on the main card. This is the opportunity to showcase them and build their profiles because you can't be hiding that talent. You have to show everybody how exciting and how good that next generation of talent is and eventually bring them on to the main shows at the big arenas."

A Throwback to Domestic Dust-Ups of Yesteryear

Reece Bellotti tops the bill of the latest NXTGEN show against Liam Dillon nearly seven years to the day since headlining the series' first card. The British and Commonwealth Super Featherweight titles will be spoils for Bellotti this time around, provided he can get past undefeated Chingford clubber Liam Dillon.

An Old-School Classic

"It's old school, an old school classic this Saturday," Hearn said of the clash. "You've got a young guy in Liam Dillon against one of our favorites in Reece Bellotti – who has been up, been down, a very popular kid from Watford as well. He's won Commonwealth titles. And it's just one of those really good British old-school classics. They won't take a step back, both guys throw hundreds and hundreds of punches. Both guys have got good chins, both guys can crack a bit."

An Exciting Undercard

This weekend's main event isn't the only fight veteran promoter Hearn is looking forward to. "The undercard has also got some of our best young talent on it. Cameron Vuong in a step up, Shannon Ryan – who looks like a future world champion. Craig Richards back in action as well – and John Hedges as well."

The Future of Boxing

Matchroom has an extremely exciting stable of prospects on their books, including the likes of Jordan Flynn, Hopey Price, and Cameron Vuong. And with the continued benefits the NXTGEN platform provides, Hearn believes it's only a matter of time before we see them competing in big and meaningful fights. He said: "These Next Gen cards are about showcasing the future of the sport. Some of these guys are going to fight for world championships in big arenas, and this is a platform to bring them through."