Hearn’s concern for his fighters
EDDIE HEARN admits coronavirus is probably the biggest obstacle of his family’s rollercoaster promotional career — but the Matchroom chief insists it is his fighters who risk catastrophe if the pandemic is not contained.
Hearn could lose up to half a million pounds if his upcoming shows succumb to the crisis. That is aside from the tens of millions they could cumulatively generate for fighters and promoter alike.
Between now and Anthony Joshua’s June 20 bout with Kubrat Pulev, Matchroom have eight cards scheduled in the UK and America — including Dereck Chisora v Oleksandr Usyk on May 23 at the O2 Arena.
Hearn insists it remains ‘business as usual’, but Chisora v Usyk has already suffered from ‘20 per cent’ slower ticket sales amid Covid-19 concerns.
‘I don’t think anybody knows what to do at the moment,’ Hearn said. ‘There’s risk for Dillian Whyte’s fight (v Alexander Povetkin), there’s risk for this and there’s risk for AJ.’
On his £40-50,000 gamble per show, Hearn added: ‘It’s not catastrophic but it’s more catastrophic for the fighters. They only get paid when they fight and we already don’t have enough shows to put out all our fighters.’
With shows in jeopardy, the virus could create a ‘logjam’ at all levels.
Canelo Alvarez’s May 2 fight with Billy Joe Saunders was due to be announced yesterday before ‘the whole world (was) turned upside down’.
Now, not for the first time, boxing is hostage to politics. If the Government ban mass gatherings, the likes of AJ and Whyte face fighting without fans.
‘Those fights would never be behind closed doors,’ Hearn said. ‘Imagine us sitting there and AJ knocks Pulev out and goes to us, “Cheers lads!”’ Usyk and Chisora appear less concerned, despite both covering their face at yesterday’s press conference.
‘I have not really thought too much about the effect of the virus,’ the Ukrainian said.
‘I will be isolated for my training camp, I always am, but every Sunday I will spend time with my family and go to church.’
Chisora added: ‘I will not hide in my house.’
But his manager, David Haye, is taking special measures, saying: ‘All the sparring partners are going to be quarantined in their flat, among themselves, and they’re going to come to the gym and then back. They’re not allowed to go out partying.’