Sunderland Echo

'Saudis want the biggest and best of everything' – Hearn

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sports but football? Another thing altogether. But they are major players in everything they do,” said Hearn, who was linked, with father Barry Hearn,asapossibl­efixerinth­e Saudi deal - a claim he refuted.

“They are not around to mess around. And if they get involvedin­afootballc­lub,they are going to be spending money.Theyarenot­shortofmon­ey, put it that way.

“It is one for a supporter – how do you feel about being taken over by a Saudi Arabian consortium? Well, we know that once we get over that, we are going to be major players.

“If they come in, they will make sure Newcastle are major players.”

Hearn and Joshua were accused of taking part in what Amnesty Internatio­nal call ‘sportswash­ing’ by staging their last fight in the kingdom, and the same has already been levelled at any potential influx of sovereign wealth fund cash to the Premier League.

Joshua’s promoter has absolutely no qualms about taking Joshua or any other fighter inhisstabl­ebacktoSau­di–and he thinks Newcastle fans will feel the same should PIF buy out Ashley.

“There are always concerns when you do internatio­nal business but we got a lot of criticism. There was the humanright­s,etc,etc.AllIcansay was that our experience from start to finish was absolutely first class. Everything they promised us, they delivered,” said Hearn. “They do have a lot of money and that makes a big difference. I can't speak highly enoughofou­rexperienc­ewith the Saudis.”

Hearn continued: “We will take Joshua back there. We have partnershi­ps with the people out there.

“They want the biggest of everything, the best of everything. They don't want small fights, they want the biggest fights out there. This is why when it comes to a football club, they won't settle for anything but buying something andmakingi­tthebigges­tclub.”

 ??  ?? HH Prince Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Eddie Hearn.
HH Prince Khalid Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Eddie Hearn.

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