Ben Shalom reflects on rapid rise and tips star to take boxing "to next level"
You could be forgiven for assuming that everything has happened in a hurry for Ben Shalom.
Just 28-years-old, the BOXXER CEO is already established as the youngest licensed boxing promoter in the UK. And in 2021, his meteoric rise in the sport was cemented by a four-year deal with Sky Sports, bestowing upon him the honour of being the broadcaster’s exclusive promoter.
And yet, scratch beneath the surface of Shalom’s background and it’s apparent he hasn’t merely rocked up from nowhere to take centre stage. While his ascent has undoubtedly been a rapid one, there’s been no fast-tracking or skipping steps. He truly came into the sport six years ago, and did so at the very first rung of the ladder.
“I was 22-years-old when I got involved and I worked every job from ticketing, to press conferences, to international sales, sponsorship, and matchmaking,” he told Mirror Sport. “So I think to go from right at the bottom of the sport has stood me in good stead. You get a real understanding of where the sport is built and the grassroots - the amateur side of things - I’m very grateful to go through that process and have that grounding.
“So it might seem you know, this guy is in his 20s, but it’s been five or six years now of working my way up. And it’s been an incredible journey.”
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Indeed it has. Even to casual followers of the sport, Shalom’s name needs little introduction. His quest to transform the sport saw him mastermind the first-ever all-female event at the O2 Arena last October, yielding a 20,000 live gate and television audience of over two million people, a record for women’s boxing.
Indeed, Shalom’s initial foray into live events brought about gripes. He admits to as a fan, regularly feeling let down by the structure of the shows he attended, and the business debacle that often characterised them.
Caroline Dubois is being tipped for huge things by Shalom (Getty Images)HAVE YOUR SAY! How far as women's boxing come this past decade? Comment below.
“People viewed the sport as this murky world that was only fit for certain people,” he recalled. “And that’s what fascinated me, how could we create a sport that the fighters are proud to be involved in, and also the broadcasters too? And that comes with things like transparency and making it less intimidating. That was what drew me in, and prompted the vision I had.”
Part of that vision has undoubtedly been to take female fighters to new levels. And after seeing the likes of Katie Taylor, Clarissa Shields, and Nicola Adams push on from the London 2012 Olympics to become household names, Shalom can laud the progress.
He added: “Women’s boxing has been a shining light to women’s sport in general. There is now genuine interest, we see it in the numbers, the pay is getting better, and there’s a a lot of opportunities now. The transformation in the last 10 years has been phenomenal - stars are coming through and now we see strength in depth.”
Shalom promoted the clash between Kell Brook and Amir KhanSure enough, Shalom’s immediate focus is on this coming Saturday night when one female fighter from his stable, Caroline Dubois, takes on Magali Rodriguez for the IBO lightweight title in London. But his hopes for Dubois extend way beyond a win over the experienced Mexican fighter.
“I’ve been fortunate to work with the likes of Clarissa Shields and Savannah Marshall, but Caroline is truly something special,” he says, with genuine conviction. “She’s 23 and only debuted last year, so to be competing at the level she is already is incredible.
“We expect a big performance on Saturday and yes, we can’t look past that. But she can take the sport to the next level. As Katie Taylor, in the same division, comes to the end of her career, Caroline Dubois is coming in to take it further agin. She has 10-15 years at highest level and will break so many records. She spars with men and I’ve never seen power like it.
“There’s huge pressure on her shoulders to carry the sport and British boxing and she’s up for the challenge. It’s going to be amazing watching her journey.”
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Shalom knows all about setting fighters off on journeys too. BOXXER has previously hosted seven versions of the Ultimate Tournament, unveiling youngsters who remain with the company to this day. But there is also plenty to discuss with him regarding household names whose career has either reached a peak, or is nearing it.
The Englishman oversaw the thunderous Kell Brook v Amir Khan clash in February 2022, with the former prevailing on a night that will linger long in the memory. But whilst the result remains unaffected, the bout has since been soured by news that Khan fought under the influence of a performance enhancing substance.
A subsequent two-year ban meant little amid his retirement, but surely the development left Shalom feeling let-down? Without directly answering that query, he shared wider concerns on an issue that continues to plague the sport.
“What for me it represents is another reason why doping is a major concern in boxing,” he replied. “We’ve had many failed tests recently across the sport and it’s highlighting why there’s an issue. For me, there is a lack of testing, and it’s not the same people doing the testing. We need to invest more in UKAD and invest more in the board so we have the resources. There needs to be a clear set out process for what happens.”
Shalom has overseen some huge women's boxing events including Savannah Marshall v Claressa Shields (Top Rank via Getty Images)He vowed his own company would work with authorities towards ensuring such notions, and yet, doping is far from the only evil currently leaving fans beleaguered. The sport’s heavyweight division is currently stumbling from one botched mega-fight to the next, with many of Shalom’s rival promoters in public spats over who is culpable.
The fan in Shalom, is as frustrated as the rest of us. The promoter in him, believes the issue signifies a sport in desperate need of structural change.
“100% I understand (fan discontent). The heavyweight division has come down to money and the Saudi influence, with the highest profile fighters waiting out for the biggest pay day. It’s slowed down the sport completely. Boxing is dangerous, yes, so fighters deserve to earn as much as they can, but the uncertainty of it all and fighters being able to bale out and wait is causing problems.
“Boxing needs to be less fragmented with more rules in place so it can operate as a sport and not just a business. Right now, huge sources of wealth that pop in and go away again are having a huge impact.”
And what of Shalom’s impact. Few promoters have ever done so much so young, and he seemingly has decades ahead of him to cement a legacy. What that legacy will entail of course, remains to be seen, but his own ultimate goal is clear.
“All I can hope for that we leave the sport in a better place,” he replied. “A sport that reached bigger audiences, had better broadcast deals, gave more opportunities to fighters, was more transparent, more trusted, and less intimidating to go into. That was the reason why we (BOXXER) started.
“We can only affect change from a strong position within. Over time, and things will always take time in a sport as traditional as this, if we can make it a better place then that would be best legacy we can leave.”
The first steps towards that ambition have long been taken. And this Saturday night, Shalom is expecting another big success story begin to unfold on his watch.
You’re in good hands, Caroline Dubois. Now it’s over to you.
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