EDDIE HEARN revealed he is in talks to set up five virtual press conferences for blockbuster fights we never got to see including Joe Calzaghe vs Carl Froch.
The boxing promoter desperately wants to keep fans engaged in the sport during the coronavirus lockdown with all events put on hold for the foreseeable future.
Carl Froch called on Joe Calzaghe to come out of retirement to settle an old score but the Welshman was having none of it
Eddie Hearn is working on a way of getting some mammoth press conferences set up between boxersCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
So with no bouts to get excited for and therefore no pre-fight wars of words, Hearn wants to give people a glimpse of what could have been.
And he has given an insight into the pressers – presumably done via Zoom – he is in the process of trying to set up.
Now fans clearly missing their boxing fix are urging Matchroom chief Hearn to get them done.
One tweeted: “This is an epic idea from Eddie ngl.”
And another said: “I’ll pay 20 quid to watch them all each.”
Joe Calzaghe vs Carl Froch
Froch may be 42 but he reckons he would come out of retirement for a chance to step into the ring with 48-year-old Calzaghe.
Welsh legend Calzaghe hung up his gloves in 2008 at 46-0 before he could face The Cobra and laughed off Froch’s suggestion.
He is happy in retirement and rests easy as he insists the 33-2 Froch would have been no match for him during his prime.
He told talkSPORT: “It’s mad, I’m still living in his head after all these years. I’ve done everything you can achieve in boxing.
“I know what would have happened and I don’t take much notice of what he says.
“When I was at my peak I’d have been too fast and too sharp for him. I think I’d have beaten any super-middleweight, maybe not Roy Jones Jr at his peak.”
George Groves vs James DeGale
Groves beat DeGale way back in May 2011 with a controversial majority decision to secure the Commonwealth and British super-middleweight titles.
It was the first pro defeat for DeGale and despite promoter Frank Warren insisting they would meet again, a rematch never materialised.
Groves retired in January 2019 with a record of 28-4 and then urged DeGale to do the same after he was beaten by Chris Eubank Jr last year.
But while the respect is still there between the pair, we never got the chance to see DeGale try and settle the score inside the ring.
George Groves beat James DeGale in 2011 but the pair never stepped into the ring together againCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
Amir Khan vs Kell Brook
This is one of the fights that could still take place – although it looks increasingly unlikely.
The long-term foes have managed to avoid each other over recent years despite plenty of fans calling for the pair to have it out inside the ring.
But Special K virtually put an end to any final hopes of the all-British affair in February as he instead targeted Liam Smith.
Speaking about Khan, Brook said: “He’s a waste of time.”
However, Hearn said: “I’d jump at that fight this summer. It’s a huge fight. Just to be part of the build-up would be special but we can’t waste our strategy and energy talking about it.”
Devin Haney vs Ryan Garcia
Hearn did speak about trying to get Haney and Garcia to fight early in 2020 but that never came to fruition.
The lightweight pair, both 21 with blemish-free pro records, met as amateurs but they will surely have the chance to claim the bragging rights for real at some point in their career.
However, Garcia’s head trainer, Eddy Reynoso, believes that his fighter needs a few more fights before taking on the likes of Floyd Mayweather’s prodigy Haney.
Kell Brook labelled Amir Khan a “waste of space” with their all-British bout looking unlikelyCredit: PA:Press Association
Reynoso said: “I would like him to have a couple more fights, because in the last three fights we have only fought for a combined four rounds.
“He still needs to learn more, fight with boxers who can give him a battle, boxers who are giving him things to work on inside the ring.”
Scott Fitzgerald vs Anthony Fowler
Fowler suffered his only pro loss at the hands of Fitzgerald in March 2019 and with it missed out on the chance to land the WBA International super-welterweight title.
Preston-born Fitzgerald survived a ninth-round onslaught before sending rival Fowler to the canvas and winning on a split decision with two horror black eyes.
The British duo were due for a rematch staged at Deepdale, the home of Preston North End, at the end of May.
But those plans had to be shelved – even before the British super-welterweight champ had his boxing licence suspended following his arrest on suspicion of assaulting a woman.
The unbeaten Brit confirmed on social media that he spent Monday night in a cell after a “kick off” with his ex-partner and her family.
Scott Fitzgerald could barely open his eyes after his win over Anthony FowlerCredit: Instagram @eddiehearn
Joe Calzaghe speaks about hypothetical Carl Froch fight
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
