MATCHMAKING A LIVING
EDDIE HEARN stood in the centre of the ring in Kansas City, between fights of a show broadcast on DAZN. As Hearn was being interviewed the promoter’s unhappiness was evident over what had transpired in the matches earlier that night. Although the Matchroom fighters had emerged victorious, the ease of their victories totally went against Hearn’s pledge to exhibit quality matchups for DAZN subscribers. Hearn was in no mood to sugarcoat things when asked about super-middleweight prospect Anthony Sims Jnr who won his bout in two easy rounds. “Eric Bottjer is a great matchmaker, but he has to do better,” said Hearn. Officially, Bottjer – new to Matchroom – had been put on notice.
“I knew I screwed up,” admitted Bottjer. “It was the second show I did for Matchroom and I used three local guys. The fights were not competitive and the fighters were awful. What I did not take into account was that DAZN televises all the fights. So as much as you want to build a fighter’s profile and record, on that stage it is important that it be somewhat competitive as well.”
Whether there are better matchmakers than Bottjer is debatable, but what is apparent is that he has served in that capacity for more promoters than anyone else. It gives him a unique look into the inside of the business that not many have.
Born on March 8, 1964 in Walnut Creek, California, Bottjer’s interest in boxing started when he was 12 in South Korea.
His father was employed by the United States Department of Defence and was frequently forced to relocate. Young Eric was
