Bruin Capital has agreed to take a minority equity interest in Matchroom Holdings, forming a strategic alliance between one of the world’s largest independent sports media and promotional businesses and a leading specialist in scaling global sports platforms. The Hearn family will retain majority ownership, with Eddie Hearn serving as Group Chairman and Barry Hearn as Founder and President. Financial terms were not disclosed. Bruin will join Matchroom’s board of directors.
Matchroom has grown over four decades into one of the largest independent sports promotion and rights businesses in the world, operating across boxing, darts, snooker, and other sports. Its portfolio includes the Professional Darts Corporation, Matchroom Boxing, the World Snooker Tour, Matchroom Multi-Sport, and Matchroom Media, with more than 600 event days and 2,400 hours of programming distributed annually across broadcast and streaming platforms worldwide. The company also represents some of the biggest names in boxing and darts, including Anthony Joshua, Katie Taylor, Jaron “Boots” Ennis, and Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez.
Led by founder and CEO George Pyne, Bruin has built a reputation for identifying and scaling founder-led sports platforms with valuable intellectual property, international audiences, and significant growth potential. Its portfolio currently includes nine platforms with global operations across more than 100 offices in 21 countries. The partnership is expected to support Matchroom’s next phase of growth, particularly in the United States, where the company has begun expanding its presence.
Together, the companies intend to expand Matchroom’s capabilities across digital distribution, data, and direct-to-consumer engagement as the sports media landscape continues to evolve. The collaboration is founded on mutual entrepreneurial principles, with Matchroom bringing a global multi-sport live events and rights platform and Bruin contributing experience scaling sports, media, and entertainment businesses at scale.
KEY QUOTES:
“Barry, Eddie, and the Matchroom team have built one of the most important independent sports businesses in the world. Matchroom sits at the intersection of live events, global media rights, and premium sports intellectual property, and we see significant opportunities ahead, particularly in the United States.”
George Pyne, Founder and CEO, Bruin Capital
“We have built this business over more than forty years by staying independent and focused on execution. In Bruin, we found a partner that understands how to grow sports businesses at scale and can help us take the next step without changing how we operate.”
Barry Hearn, Founder and President, Matchroom Sport
“The opportunity for Matchroom in the United States and globally continues to grow. This partnership with Bruin gives us the ability to accelerate that expansion and build on the platform we have created.”
Eddie Hearn, Group Chairman, Matchroom Sport
