For a few years, I worked as a matchmaker in professional boxing. It’s a behind-the-scenes job, little known to the general public, yet absolutely essential to the smooth running of every boxing event.
It’s also a school of life. An experience that transformed me, helped me grow, gave me grey hairs… and gave me a much clearer understanding of the industry.
Being a matchmaker means being at the heart of the action without ever stepping into the ring. It means understanding the inner workings of the sport, the real purses that boxers earn (often far from the millions people imagine), the cuts taken by agents, promoters, and matchmakers themselves. It’s discovering a fascinating world… but one that’s not always “squeaky clean.” I had the chance to meet incredible people — passionate, meticulous, honest…
But I also came across some real garbage. People who take advantage of the system, who try to get rich off the backs of athletes who pour their heart and soul into this sport.
I worked with several promotions, dozens of matchmakers, and all kinds of athletic commissions. Some commissions are rigid as steel, enforcing rules to the letter.
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Aguirre and Santana
Others, let’s be honest, are barely regulated at all. The result? It’s not uncommon to see teams buy a spot on a card to secure an easy win. To boost a record. To look “appealing” again in the eyes of promoters. And let’s not kid ourselves: the big-money purses everyone talks about in boxing — the six- and seven-figure ones — less than 1% of boxers ever get a shot at those.
When I was matchmaking, I had one constant concern: to offer useful, formative, balanced fights. Not always 50/50, of course — you have to be strategic — but always with the idea that the boxer would learn something. Because let’s be real: a boxer who knocks out his opponent in the first round doesn’t learn much. So I wanted them to face different styles to prepare for the big stages. A tall, rangy boxer who fights from a distance. A short tank who applies pressure. A southpaw. A puncher. A counterpuncher. Every fight had to be a step toward the top, a climb in the rankings, a learning experience.
Finding an Opponent
There are mainly two ways to go about it.
The first: send a fight sheet to several other matchmakers. It includes the location, date, name of the boxer, weight, number of rounds, whether a title is at stake, etc. You get offers, narrow it down, and then consult the team to make a choice.
The second, more targeted approach: contact camps directly that meet your criteria. It’s often quicker, but requires a solid network and in-depth knowledge of available boxers around the world.
That’s when the real work begins… and the headaches too!
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Mbilli et Gongora
Once you’ve found an opponent and have a verbal agreement, you need to make it official. And that’s when the paperwork starts.
We’re talking about:
-A valid passport photo
-Visa and travel letter
-A declaration of no criminal record
-Up-to-date medicals, signed and stamped by a clinic
-Authorization to fight from the local athletic commission
-A signed contract detailing exact terms: purse, flight tickets, hotel rooms, meal allowances, etc.
-And sometimes even: glove brand, ring size, locker room size, etc. — especially for bigger fights.
All these documents must be submitted to the athletic commission where the event is taking place, to the coordination team (transport, lodging, logistics)… and then you cross your fingers.
Because even with all the prep in the world, a fight can fall through. Injury, illness, visa delays, missed flights… anything can happen. And that’s why any good matchmaker plans a plan A, a plan B, sometimes even a plan C.
A Job of Passion… and Patience
I swear, matchmaking is an incredibly demanding job. Stressful. Intense. But it’s also a job born of passion. I learned a lot. I grew. I came to understand the true dynamics of professional boxing. And despite everything, I’m still driven by the same desire: to do things right. To offer boxers the best opportunities to grow, to perform… and to dream.
Photo: Vincent Ethier – Jordan Mathieu (matchmaker d’EOTTM), Antonin Décarie, Erik Israyelyan, Camille Estephan, Samuel Décarie-Drolet et Shawn Collinson
If one day you cross paths with a matchmaker, just know there’s a good chance they haven’t slept in two weeks, they’ve dealt with 42 emails, 17 WhatsApp calls, 3 customs officers, and one last-minute cancellation. And they’ll do it all over again tomorrow morning. Because they love this sport.
