Barry Hearn praises son Eddie for ensuring Fury v Joshua fight happens in the UK
Matchroom president Barry Hearn believes Anthony Joshua’s ‘Battle of Britain’ with Tyson Fury “belonged in the UK” and has praised son Eddie Hearn for taking a stand to make it happen.
After Wembley had been braced to host the eagerly-anticipated heavyweight clash, issues with an 11pm curfew for the London venue sparked a tug-of-war, with key figures involved eager to take it to Madison Square Garden in New York.
However, with a section in Joshua’s contract stipulating the fight must take place in the UK and with a wealth of support from British boxing fans, promoter Eddie Hearn and ‘AJ’ stood firm in the face of drawn-out negotiations before Cardiff’s Principality Stadium emerged as a viable solution to appease all parties.
Ahead of tickets for the blockbuster December 11 showdown going on sale on Friday, Barry Hearn told the Press Association: “Fortunately everyone’s seen sense. I think there’s a decent-ish atmosphere, but it needed someone to stand up and be counted.
“And with the money that you’re talking about and the powerful people you’re going up against, it took a powerful and a very dedicated team of two to get this fight in the UK for British fight fans.
“Even if it’s going to be early hours of the morning, it’s in the UK. You haven’t got to fly anywhere. It’s a fight that belonged in the UK. It’s a big fight anywhere in the world, but it’s not as big as it is in the UK because these are our boys.
“And whether you’re a Fury fan or a Joshua fan, you want to see it in your country, otherwise as a country, we’ll never stage anything memorable. We just get outbid or outflanked by other people in any type of sport, but not with Matchroom and not with Eddie.”
Concerns over the fight collapsing again increased during a tense period of back and forth, but Barry Hearn, 78, cannot wait for a “spectacular occasion” in Cardiff.
“People like me, I’ve been waiting 10 years for this. I don’t have another 10 years! I want to see this fight,” Matchroom Sport founder Hearn said.
“I would have been devastated if this fight for any reason didn’t happen because why? Why are we in this business? Isn’t it to create moments and memories that live on? And I will never forget Joshua against (Wladimir) Klitschko.
“Sports are about creating memories and sometimes it gets a bit mixed up with egos, but Eddie fought. That’s what I’m pleased about.
“When your dad’s done OK and you’re the son filling big, big shoes, and actually he’s a lot better than me at my peak, I hate to say it. He’s a very determined young man and he’s a great, great promoter.
“Eddie had to go out and has probably made a few enemies along the way. That’s life. You know, you can’t please everybody, but you can please yourself. You can look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘have I done the right thing?’. And I’m very proud that he has.
“This to me is (Muhammad) Ali v (Joe) Frazier. That’s the level I’m talking about.
“December the 11th, please, no more hassle. Let’s get them in the ring and let’s sit back and enjoy what will be a spectacular occasion.”
Published: by Radio NewsHub