EDDIE HEARN had no problem working with controversial figure Daniel Kinahan until public uproar forced him out of the spotlight.
When Tyson Fury revealed Irish gangster Kinahan was the man Hearn had brokered financial terms with for the match-up with Anthony Joshua, Ireland’s politicians were disgusted.
Eddie Hearn had no previous issue of working with controversial Irishman Daniel Kinahan
Gangster Daniel Kinahan and his involvement in boxing negotiations has caused quite a stir
The PM demanded a boycott, while potential broadcasters BT Sport and Sky Sports were urged to investigate Kinahan’s background.
Despite the Dubai-based businessman having no criminal record, allegations in the high court that he ran a multi-million-pound drug empire were enough to scare BT and Sky into distancing themselves from the situation.
A bizarre statement from 88-year-old US promoter Bob Arum — in which he told of his and Fury’s love and respect for Kinahan — claimed the Irishman was axed from the mega-money deal, appeasing a few important people.
But the WBC king then took to Instagram to back the boxing advisor for Irish PM, leaving fans doubting their bond has genuinely been broken.
Joshua’s promoter Hearn insists the job of boxing matchmaker can sometimes mean dealing with the devil.
He said: “Whoever I’m told to negotiate with to make a fight, I will negotiate with. He was the guy put in charge of that process so that’s what we did.
“Now they have made it very clear Bob Arum is the man in charge of Tyson Fury and we will negotiate exclusively with Bob Arum now.
“I’ve had my ups and downs with Bob, I don’t really care, we just have to make the fight.
“Whoever is put in front of me to negotiate with to get this over the line, I will make sure we get it done.”
Hearn has now got the deals done to host a month-long fight festival in his Essex office garden with four cracking 50-50 cards.
AJ is too much of a box-office draw to fight behind closed doors but he fancies a ringside seat to watch his old foes Dillian Whyte and Alexander Povetkin settle the finale on August 22.
Yet Hearn said: “He might have to watch from the office window.
“He has no problem fighting behind closed doors. A lot of these guys really like fighting but some of them want to be Instagram boxers.
“I’ve noticed just a couple who’ve said, ‘Oh, no, I’ll wait until the crowds come back’.
“Whereas others are just going, ‘Mate, I’m ready, just put me in. I don’t care where it is, when it is, just give me the opportunity and I won’t let you down’.”
Whyte’s ruck with the dangerous Russian is a pay-per-view show — and a major risk as the Brixton ace is guaranteed a shot at the WBC title once Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder settle their trilogy.
Hearn said: “The big risk is for Dillian. It’s just a case of being a pro and realising the sport you are in, which is extremely dangerous.
“And if you aren’t on it, you’re in trouble — not just of losing a fight but getting hurt.
“And that fear factor for any fighter is enough to make sure you’re switched on.”
Eddie Hearn says he was ‘a little surprised’ by the uproar over Daniel Kinahan being praised by Tyson Fury
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
