Pictured: Barry Hearn, Patrick Cusick and myself at the meeting in the Waldorf Hotel last week, the meeting was a great success and, in my opinion, really good news for continuing muaythai global promotion.

The following is the article that Patrick wrote for the Bangkok Post -

East Londoner Barry Hearn is known as the man with the Midas touch.

His many successes in sports promotion include turning a chain of snooker halls into the world's most popular Premier Snooker League that's televised around Europe.

Armed with a singular vision and a business strategy of "aim high and thrive," Hearn has turned professional darts into a multi-million dollar revenue earning corporation.

I was fortunate enough this week to meet the famous British sports innovator in the gracious surroundings of the Waldorf Hotel in central London.

The purpose for our meeting in such an elegant setting was to hear Hearn's plans to position Muay Thai as the new wave combat sport for Britain and Europe.

"I see Muay Thai as the sleeping giant of martial arts," he said.

"Those who are involved with Muay Thai get excited about the Thai heritage combat sport. That excitement has been making waves around the world and it's got support in Britain.

"The timing is now right for Muay Thai to get to the next level. It needs a big event and BEC Tero's Battle for the Belts events with seven WBC world championships is the sort of event that excites me.

"Bringing seven Muay Thai champions to London in one big event will create a big wave for the premier stand-up combat sport that will spread through Europe."

Hearn is busy finalising the final card for BEC Tero director Brian Macar who will fly to London on July 29 to meet with the four British fighters who will be challenging four of the seven reigning champions.

The British top challengers include Steve Wakeling (light-heavyweight) and Liam Harrison (welterweight).

Hearn says he won't get involved with any sport unless he is sure that the competitors are intent on winning.

As a pioneer of new wave sports, Hearn's formula for success is that he gives people what they want.

"I've been involved with WBC boxing in Britain for many years. There are aspects of professional boxing that can pave the way for Muay Thai popularity on the world stage.

"Combat in the ring can only thrive if there are international rules and safety standards. Professional boxing has shown how boxing can be safe for public consumption and Muay Thai is following the boxing genre, but with the extra weapons that appeal to the new generation of sports combat fans."

Hearn is confident that the seven world title event being planned will be a sellout in London.

Hearn has been a promoter of boxing since the 1980s. His first big promotion was Frank Bruno against Joe Bugner.

Since then he has promoted many leading British and Irish boxers including Lennox Lewis and Herbie Hide.

In April 2008, Hearn started the Prize Fighter series which is a knockout tournament featuring eight boxers in a last man standing format.

While his son Eddie has taken the reigns of the boxing business, Barry is keen to take the pole position to steer Muay Thai into popular appeal across Europe.

Hearn sees his union with Macar as "a perfect fit" and has observed over the years BEC Tero's impressive track record of success in staging big entertainment shows and sports events like the Thailand Open tennis tournament.

Macar and Hearn share an affinity in their passion for football.

Hearn has been chairman of English club Leyton Orient since 1995 while Macar has been the driving force behind BEC Tero football club.

exciting times ahead for uk muay thai.

All looking very good for UK MT.

Get in the gym boys!




And girls

Daniel, if you haven't done so already, why not contact the UK press to see if they're willing to write a piece on it, perhaps with an interview with Barry Hearn.

Obviously, it might have to wait a few weeks for there to be a little space in the sports columns...

I think papers like the Telegraph and the Mirror cover both boxing and MMA so they could be a good starting point.

Thanks Raymond a good point, if anyone has any contacts in the press please email wbcmuaythai@yahoo.co.uk

Thank You

Daniel Suarez

I could get it in the press in the morning. But there is no way on this earth I'd even think of giving contacts away without sitting at the top table to start with! People would just reap the rewards for a little thanks a lot mate. I don't think so!

Phil Doherty, Martial News an online martials arts newspaper.
They do my press releases, etc. Good contact.

you could try Gareth A Davies at the Telegraph - he comments on all the boxing and MMA.

I won't charge for this information either, but I do want a weally weally high chair at the top table ;-)

Bold boast there Nigel-Ash - though I notice you didn't say which press exactly - I can't really see all the nationals holding their Olympic coverage just to cover this story.

Haha Raymond. It no good giving contacts away willy nilly. If it was charity then yeah defo but we ain't dealing with charity here haha

Barry Hearn doesn't need contacts off a retard like me anyway lets be honest

good attidude nigelash hearn is only coming to the top table to control or own it and then reap all the financial rewards he isnt doing it for love

Good things can and do happen and id luv to get involved with this defo !!!

As long as the fighters, get good paydays, looked after, and fare play, I hope Barry Hearns earns millions, for pushing, Muay Thai to the front.

This could be what Muay Thai has waited for, dont knock it, we have much worse, that control our sport.

Mark

would be nice if we have the same problems as boxing i.e wont take fights unless paid telephone numbers, people binning belts in protest and main stream sponsors or fights sold out and live on mainstream TV. lets get there first or shall we just all be happy in church halls and a couple of bags of crisps for fighting...

I'm all for it. I hope it works 100% but for the sport as a whole not just a few!

you are right though the top of the pyramid will be where the cream is .....no different to boxing as it is right now...

There's not a single doubt in my mind there are gyms and individuals making sure that they are all nice a cosy with this deal. At the same time they are making sure they are keeping the whole MT industry sweet with "It's a deal for everyone" just incase they need the industries support for PR reasons.

Naturally they will have justified why they are so deserving first! All I'm saying is don't be led blind for the benefit of others aka (The few)!

well i think its a given that some gyms will benefit more than others...end of the day hearn will not want to invest money in lesser fighters...you can build fighters up once there is a following on tv but as a format from scratch you need the best of the best fighting to showcase the talent, the level they compete at and the techniques...once the sport is established then lesser fighters can be followed as they progress

i imagine the few gyms that will initially be shown will be the camps with the best fighters and the most successful in the ring

thats why they are showcasing buakaw and the thai side of the talent rather than some lesser named, up and coming figter from chiang mai or issan

so you'll see fighters from gyms like scorpions and bad company rather than singto etc

Nigel-Ash with regards to gym's making them selves nice and cosy with the deal. Why wouldn't they? Should they let a chance to finally make decent money pass them by? Don't forget the top gym's are the best for a reason. They work the hardest, have the most dedicated and exciting fighters, surely they deserve to be cosy with the deal, before a lesser gym?

Then don't dress it up like its something else then!

He turned darts, and snooker into multi-million pound ventures. Not every player was going to get a slice of the pie. The best was. Not dressed up, just life.

TBF i just dont understand the negativity of cedrtain people regarding this?? Of course as stated there is going to be certain gym's and fighters who will benefit from this from the off thats pretty much a given. And to me is obvious why.....?? Your not going to try and build up a new venture (like he doing with MT) and have a shitty show with C Class fights on or fighter who are not known and top of the tree in there respected weights, ie Steve and Liam as named. But this is needed to hopefully build up the following he will be after and then from there i'm more than sure it will move forward and other fighters on there way up will get there chance.

So how about peeps stop the bitching and stop trying to put down everything potentially good that happens in our sport...ffs people support it for a change.

Got to agree midget gem, fighters from my gym won't benefit straight away but my younger guys will hopefully benefit from.this and maybe be able to train and fight full time. There is definitely a few with the potentialcoming out of eclipse mt anyway

Barry Hearn sold fishing to Sky Sports and has achieved a 19 year old successful television deal. Surely Muay Thai is more exciting than fishing. lets get behind this man.

Good post Andy,the whole Muay Thai scene in this country will benefit by B Hearn being involved imho:)

I think it's the best thing probably ever to happen to MT. But look how long is was kept quiet for. It kind of leaked out so to speak. Everyone and I mean EVERYONE has said in the past about improving things for MT as a whole. That chance has arrived but who is promoting the change for the whole of MT? Andy is right its only going to help the few which is what I was saying. It's just in some areas both on and off Ax I may had its being pushed as a "We are all in it together" and we are not.

yes well done Andy

Nighelash i hope it works out for all too and not just the egos in the sport

KICK BOXING!

Nigel Ash, the way I see this business venture is, it has to start at the top. Ploughing money in at novice level wont work for the launch. This is not a new business it's been running for years. Getting the T.V coverage from he likes of Sky requires the elite fighters. Not everyone will benefit from the start, but then again why should they? Don't forget that the likes of Liam, and Stephen have dedicated their lives to the sport and deserve to be first in line, they have earned their right to be first. They also have the pressure of captivating the audience and providing exciting fights to grab the attention of the heads of the T.V companies, and new fans. These guys can handle the pressure and will make it a success. Then the rest will benefit.

That's probably a fair assessment tbh. I'm worried who they are taking advice from. Some people in the UK can't run a profitable gym never mind advise on an explosion of this size.

I see a series being formed that people will want to get in like UFC. That's a good thing. What I am interested in seeing is all these people who are not in the sport for money giving it all away to charity Haha.

Don't think full MT rules and scoring will make the final cut. Basically BH has hot to make a TV programme for the masses. The criteria for that will dictate the rules and regs used. Then obviously all those who just want to doing authentic MT will take a step back and let others who don't compete. I BET THEY WILL haha.

I agree with that, their will be some tinkering for sure. Then we can see the purists true colours like you say. I can see JWP cage concept catching on. It's a winner for sure, would probably be massive in the U.S as their are lots of MMA fans who hate the grappling and wrestle fuc**** for 5 rounds. The thought of any of the top strikers in 4oz gloves is a scary one. It's the way I see it going to be fair.

Battle Of The Belts