EDDIE HEARN admits that even his friends were convinced by an embarrassing photoshopped snap of him.
The Matchroom promoter, 44, is currently in Saudi Arabia for tomorrow’s undisputed showdown between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk.
Hearn has been involved closely in the build-up as his fighter Jai Opetaia faces Mairis Briedis on the undercard while his star man Anthony Joshua looks to potentially get a shot at becoming a three-time world champ.
However, Hearn’s focus was hilariously taken away from the biggest fight for decades after something caught his eye on X.
An account that dubbed itself “MrBoxingFacts” shared what appeared to be a screengrab of the Brit being interviewed on DAZN.
However, a black liquid looked to be running down from the match-maker’s hair.
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That led to the social media user captioning it with: “It was that hot in Saudi last night, even Eddie Hearn’s hair dye was running #FuryUsyk #JustForMen.”
That post soon started going viral, and it even led to Hearn responding.
Along with a see-no-evil monkey face and crying with laughter emoji, he replied: “Good work I’ve even had my mates asking if it’s real.”
The shocked MrBoxingFacts was delighted to see Hearn’s interaction and he said: “Thanks for the follow Eddie, made my day.”
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To which Hearn replied: “Top skills fair play.”
Hearn was in attendance yesterday to watch Fury REFUSE to even look at rival Usyk in the pre-fight press conference.
Thursday began by the Gypsy King pulling out of a live interview for ITV’S Good Morning Britain.
And Usyk’s team continued the eventful build-up to the weekend blockbuster by reportedly filing a complaint that parts of the Riyadh ring canvas could be a trip hazard.
Things then came to a head – or rather they didn’t – when the Gypsy King refused to look at, let alone do the traditional face-to-face posturing, with his Ukrainian opponent.
But it was the WBC champion’s father John who had stolen the headlines after he shockingly HEADBUTTED Stanislav Stepchuk – a member of the Usyk team – on Monday.
John, who was left with a bloodied forehead, was then screaming in the resulting melee: “We can’t be beat! We can’t be beat!”
The 59-year-old then threatened to headbutt Tony Bellew after he predicted a Usyk win and then launched a bitter attack on “traitor” British fans who believe that his undefeated 6ft 9in boy will be beaten this weekend.
However, Hearn is not one of them as he believes that it will be Fury who has his hand raised.
He told the Matchroom Boxing YouTube channel: “I’m backwards and forwards all the time — that’s why it is such a great fight.
“Who doesn’t want to see Fury/Usyk? It’s such an intriguing fight.
“One minute I see Usyk in training camp and I think, ‘he always finds a way’. And then you see Fury in much better shape…
“I’ve gone against Fury so many times. I didn’t think he’d beat Wladimir Klitschko, I didn’t think he’d beat Deontay Wilder. But I’ve also gone against Usyk: I believed [Anthony Joshua] would beat him.
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“Right now, if Fury comes out like he did for [the second fight with] Wilder and he’s aggressive with smart pressure, I think he can stop him.
“That’s what I’m going for right now. I hope Fury can do it, I really want him to win this fight.”
Saudi Arabia is no place for Fury vs Usyk… the blockbuster undisputed fight will sound deserted
By Dave Kidd
IT is the single greatest individual sporting title on the planet — the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world.
It is the crown worn by Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Rocky Marciano and Jack Dempsey.
And it is an honour which has not been bestowed for a quarter of a century.
Yet when Tyson Fury steps into the ring to face Oleksandr Usyk for the ultimate accolade in prize-fighting, he will do so in the dead of an Arabian night, in front of a largely disinterested crowd, one with little atmosphere or sense of occasion.
What ought to have been The Greatest Show on Earth will feel like a ding-dong held in a vortex.
The Saudification of elite sport is reaching crisis point — from the civil war in golf, to the march of football’s filthy-rich Saudi Pro League, to the awarding of the 2034 World Cup.
But this event, at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, in the early hours of Sunday morning local time, is a true crown jewel, allowing the Sheikhs to bask in its reflected glory, to marvel at their own wealth and power.
But this event, at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, in the early hours of Sunday morning local time, is a true crown jewel, allowing the Sheikhs to bask in its reflected glory, to marvel at their own wealth and power.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al-Nassr met Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami at the same venue earlier this year but that was an exhibition match, this is the real deal.
The tragedy for British boxing is that it currently holds the balance of power in the heavyweight division — thanks to Fury, Anthony Joshua and several other decent contenders.
To read more from Dave Kidd, click here.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
