Latest news with #EddieHearn
Daily Mail
14 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Eddie Hearn reveals dad Barry suffered a heart attack during Leyton Orient play-off clash - before attending boxing fight just FIVE days later in rapid recovery
Barry Hearn suffered a heart attack last month during Leyton Orient's play-off semi-final clash against Stockport County, his son Eddie has revealed. Barry, a legendary sports promoter, who has been involved in snooker, boxing, darts, football and more, previously owned the Os between 1995 and 2014. And, according to Eddie, a renowned boxing promoter, Barry felt some discomfort during the first leg of play-off encounter against Stockport and had to be taken to hospital. The 77-year-old, who has had two previous heart attacks, then had a third stent installed. A stent is a small mesh-like tube that helps to keep arteries open and is a common procedure following a heart attack. Thankfully, Barry recovered and despite the ordeal, he was remarkably present at Dave Allen's boxing clash against Johnny Fisher just a week later. Reflecting on what happened, Eddie told Boxing Social: 'He's fine. Obviously it's always very scary, that kind of thing. It was at the Orient match. It will do that to you, Leyton Orient. 'Five minutes in and he said "I'll just see out the game". Unfortunately he had to go down to the doctors and get taken to hospital, he had a heart attack. 'He had another stent. He's had three stents now, three heart attacks. As far as he's concerned he's brand new now. He played cricket at the weekend for Essex Over-70s. He scored 60. 'It actually happened the weekend before the Johnny Fisher fight, so it was back in May, and he went to the Johnny Fisher fight, five days after the heart attack.' Speaking further about his father's rapid recovery and return to normality, Eddie provided further context. 'On the Monday he had a stent put in to his artery,' he added. 'Tuesday they let him out. So he gets back home Tuesday. 'So I'm like "right, well you won't be coming to the Johnny Fisher fight". He says "no I'm f***ing coming to the Johnny Fisher fight". 'No, what are you doing? "I'm not missing the Johnny Fisher fight!" I said "dad, chill out". He goes "I'm not living my life like that, I've had a new stent, I'm brand new".' Eddie continued: 'That's what you're dealing with. When he goes, my dad, it could be next week, or it could be in 10 years, you just never know when your time's up. The 77-year-old owned Orient, who play in League One, for 19 years from 1995 to 2014 'But you will be able to say he lived to the absolute max of his life. And that's a great thing to be able to say.' Orient went on to draw the first leg against Stockport 2-2 before they progressed to the final on penalties following a 1-1 draw in the second leg. However, the Os - who were owned by Hearn when they last reached the League One play-off final in 2014 when they lost to Rotherham - were beaten 1-0 by Charlton to consign Richie Wellens' side to another season in the third tier. Hearn had previously explained the painful nature of that dramatic defeat by Rotherham 11 years ago and how it had impacted him. 'I've been paying for therapy ever since that day against Rotherham!,' he said. 'I get nightmares about it. This (the Charlton game) is my opportunity to cleanse myself, take away my therapist bills, go back to normal sleep patterns.'
The Sun
17 hours ago
- Health
- The Sun
Eddie Hearn reveals dad Barry suffered heart attack at League One play-off clash then went to boxing days later
BARRY HEARN suffered a heart attack during Leyton Orient's play-off clash with Stockport last month, his son Eddie has revealed. But amazingly, the veteran promoter was back on his feet in time to attend the Dave-Allen Johnny Fisher fight just a week later. 5 5 Hearn, 77, felt discomfort early on in Orient's semi-final first-leg and had to be taken to hospital. The snooker supremo subsequently had a third stent installed, having suffered two previous heart attacks. Reliving the ordeal in a conversation with Boxing Social, Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn said of his dad: "He's fine. Obviously it's always very scary, that kind of thing. It was at the Orient match. It will do that to you, Leyton Orient. "Five minutes in and he said 'I'll just see out the game'. Unfortunately he had to go down to the doctors and get taken to hospital, he had a heart attack. "He had another stent. He's had three stents now, three heart attacks." Hearn made a remarkably quick recovery, heading to East London's Copper Box Arena just seven days later to witness Dave Allen's knockout of the year contender against Johnny Fisher. Eddie continued: "As far as he's concerned he's brand new now. He played cricket at the weekend for Essex Over-70s. He scored 60. "It actually happened the weekend before the Johnny Fisher fight, so it was back in May, and he went to the Johnny Fisher fight, five days after the heart attack." BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK 5 Hearn, who turned 77 yesterday, was determined to get back on his feet quickly, with Eddie adding: "On the Monday he had a stent put in to his artery. Tuesday they let him out. So he gets back home Tuesday. "So I'm like 'right, well you won't be coming to the Johnny Fisher fight'. He says 'no I'm f***ing coming to the Johnny Fisher fight'. "No, what are you doing? 'I'm not missing the Johnny Fisher fight!' I said 'dad, chill out'. He goes 'I'm not living my life like that, I've had a new stent, I'm brand new.' "That's what you're dealing with. When he goes, he's actually 77 today, my dad, it could be next week, or it could be in 10 years, you just never know when your time's up. "But you will be able to say he lived to the absolute max of his life. And that's a great thing to be able to say." Orient went on to beat Stockport and book a place in the League One play-off final. Ahead of the Wembley clash with Charlton, Barry revealed to SunSport that O's' play-off final defeat to Rotherham 11 years ago left him needing therapy. Britain's leading sports promoter told SunSport: "I've been paying for therapy ever since that day against Rotherham! "I get nightmares about it. This is my opportunity to cleanse myself, take away my therapist bills, go back to normal sleep patterns." Unfortunately for Hearn, who sold the East London club in 2014, Orient were beaten 1-0 by Charlton under the Wembley arch.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Brightest prospects of 2025: Top 10 fighters with fewer than 10 bouts
Before champions earn their titles, they are contenders. Before they can contend, they are prospects. Some fighters wear the prospect tag well but fade into obscurity, with injury, losses, and inactivity all major pitfalls. But some prospects that catch the eye early into their careers go on to live up to their potential. It can be difficult to define exactly what a prospect is. Some boxing fans may designate Andy Cruz as a prospect despite his amateur pedigree and mandatory challenger status with the IBF at lightweight, whilst some world champions are viewed as potential prospects in certain corners. The Independent and DAZN 's list of prospects only contains fighters with fewer than 10 professional bouts, with boxers holding either mandatory challenger status or with a pending major title bout deemed ineligible. In no particular order, here are 10 of the best fighters with fewer than 10 fights on their records. Emmanuel Buttigieg, better known by the name 'Leli', has already claimed that he is the biggest prospect at 154 pounds. It is not just the fighter making such claims, with Eddie Hearn labelling the 'Maltese Monster' an 'outstanding talent'. Nine fights into his career since making his debut in December 2023 with a first-round stoppage of Mario Oliveira, Buttigieg has stopped his last two opponents. Hearn now plans for the fighter to step up to eight-round affairs. Described as an all-rounder, Buttigieg has improved his work in the pocket over his last few fights. Managed by Lee Eaton, Buttigieg has been boxing since the age of seven, going on to represent England at the European Games in an extensive amateur career. He turned pro at 18, signing with Hearn's Matchroom Boxing. Trained at Ibox Gym, the 20-year-old shares a stable with Sam Noakes and Skye Nicolson, but has often been grouped with Matchroom's fellow Essex fighters Johnny Fisher, Jimmy Sains, and George Liddard. The quadruple frequently appear on the same shows, with all four in action at the Copper Box in May 2025. Ali Feliz – 21 – Heavyweight – 6-0 (5 KOs) The United States of America was a heavyweight-producing machine for many decades, but recently boxing's most glamorous division has been missing an American contender. Deontay Wilder held the WBC belt between 2015 and 2020, the 'Bronze Bomber' himself ending an eight-year drought, the longest between American heavyweight world champions. Fast forward five years, boxing fans in the USA are now looking for a prospect to snap their current wait, with some pinning their hopes on Ali Feliz. A gold medallist at the USA's Olympic trials and national champion in 2022, Felix turned pro after signing with Bob Arum 's Top Rank in 2024. Son of former pro Fernely Feliz, the American stands at just 6' 2' - making the 21-year-old relatively small by modern heavyweight standards. Signed with Top Rank, Feliz has been on a tear since turning pro, fighting six times within the first 13 months of his paid career. He has won all six of those fights, managing to finish five inside the distance, demonstrating his knockout power. Teremoana Teremoana – 27 – Heavyweight – 8-0 (8 KOs) No, you are not seeing double – although Teremoana Teremoana's opponents might feel that way after stepping into the ring with the Aussie heavyweight. Teremoana, who sometimes goes by Teremoana Junior rather than his doubled name, is the second-oldest inclusion on this list, with his professional career interrupted by a foray into the Olympics in 2024. He reached the quarter-finals of the super-heavyweight competition in Paris, where he was defeated by reigning champion Bakhodir Jalolov, who would go on to secure a second, successive gold medal. Prior to his Olympic journey, Teremoana had four knockouts from four bouts, a feat he has replicated since returning to the professional ranks in December 2024. So keen to get rounds under his belt, Teremoana flew across the world to New York in order to face Aleem Whitfield on the undercard of Hitchins-Kambosos Jr a week after his fight on the Opetaia-Squeo card was cancelled. Teremoana dispatched the American inside the first-round, forcing Whitfield to retire, making it five-straight stoppages inside the first three minutes for the Australian. Giorgio Visioli – 22 – Super-featherweight – 7-0 (6 KOs) Giorgio Visioli commanded a lot of attention and respect as an amateur, winning the England Boxing national competition at lightweight and light welterweight. Despite his pedigree, Visioli missed out on a spot on the Team GB squad, instead turning his attention to the professional ranks. Former IBF flyweight champion Sunny Edwards offered advice, with Visioli now managed by the retired boxer and Anthony Fitzpatrick. Whilst promoters usually hide behind vague platitudes when discussing their fighters, Eddie Hearn has not minced his words when taking about Visioli. Despite a lack of belts to prove it, Hearn stated that Visioli is already at 'British, Commonwealth, and European level' and that the 22-year-old is a future world champion. Visioli fights again this weekend on the undercard of Yafai-Rodriguez Jr, with a potential tricky bout against Elias Federico, 7-1-1 (2), the WBC Latino champion at lightweight. Taylor Bevan – 24 – Super-middleweight – 4-0 (4 KOs) Welshman Taylor Bevan has been fighting consistently since turning pro towards the end of 2024. It is easier for Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing to get Bevan back into the ring every two months when the super-middleweight makes quick work of his opponents. His dispatching of Juan Cruz Cacheiro in May was the fourth time Bevan has ended a fight before the send of the second round. He is already scheduled to fight again in July, returning to the south coast of England where he was born. Currently based in Cardiff, Bevan will be in action on the undercard of Garner-Bellotti in Bournemouth, on Saturday, July 26, live on DAZN. Knockout power is desirable at any weight, but as you go down the divisions, it can be rarer to find. At 147 pounds, 19-year-old Cayden Griffiths has demonstrated his ability to finish a bout on his terms, with two brutal KOs already in 2025 – one of which has made our list of best knockouts so far this year. Backed by Oscar De La Hoya and Golden Boy Promotions, Griffiths is trained by brothers Joel and Antonio Díaz at the very same gym that coached world champions Israil Madrimov and Murodjon Akhmadaliev. It remains to be seen whether Griffiths can maintain his knockout streak against a higher-calibre of fighter, but the early signs indicate that the teenager may become a threat sooner rather than later at 147 pounds. Lewis Richardson – 28 – Middleweight – 1-0 (0 KOs) The only Team GB boxing medallist at the 2024 Olympic games, Lewis Richardson is backed to make quick gains in the pro ranks. Having picked up a bronze medal at the welterweight tournament last summer, Richardson turned his focus to the pro ranks, with Frank Warren 's Queensberry Promotions swooping in to sign the Colchester native. So excited is Warren about Richardson's potential that the veteran promoter has already spoken about the prospect of the 28-year-old headlining a card at Colchester United 's stadium. A combination of his advanced age, Richardson being the oldest fighter on this list, and his amateur pedigree will likely see the middleweight fast tracked. Richardson was chucked straight into a six-rounder with Dmitri Protkunas on the undercard of Wardley-Huni, a routine affair for the debutant as he picked up a points win. Omari Jones – 22 – Super-welterweight – 2-0 (2 KOs) Another Olympian, Omari Jones earned the nickname 'Banger' for a reason – his power. If things had gone differently, Jones and the aforementioned Richardson could have faced each other in the final of the welterweight tournament at the 2024 Olympic games, but both fighters had to settle for bronze after losing their semi-finals. Jones turned pro at the start of 2025, joining Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, and he has already demonstrated his knockout power. After taking two rounds to dispatch Alessio Mastronunzio in his debut, Jones stopped William Jackson in the first three minutes of his second bout. Aside from his hard-hitting punches, Jackson is fairly tall for a super-welterweight, at 6' 1'. Curmel Moton – 19 – Lightweight – 8-0 (6 KOs) Not many fighters can say they have been handpicked for mentorship by Floyd Mayweather Jr, with Curmel Moton firmly a protegee of 'Money' Mayweather. Still a teenager, Moton has worked with Gervonta 'Tank' Davis, Shakur Stevenson, and Keyshawn Davis in the ring. Despite only being 19 years of age, Moton has plenty of experience thanks to over 130 wins in the amateurs, the American picking up 18 titles in the unpaid code. Predominantly a lightweight, Moton has the ability to finish fights inside the distance, with six stoppages from eight bouts. Only once has he fought an opponent with a losing record, with his last win a routine unanimous decision victory over Renny Viamonte at the end of May. Ibraheem Sulaimaan – 24 – Super-featherweight – 7-0 (4 KOs) Ibraheem Sulaimaan has quickly earned fans for his front-foot mindset inside the ring, with the super-featherweight fighter keen to take the fight to his opponents. Aside from gaining fans, Sulaimaan's performances caught the attention of Eddie Hearn. Having fought his five pro bouts on Matchroom cards, it was not until 2024 that the promotion signed Sulaimaan as one of their own. Nicknamed Spider, Sulaimaan was named prospect of 2024 by Matchroom fans in the promotion's yearly awards. The 24-year-old is back in action this weekend, fighting on the undercard of Yafai-Rodriguez Jr, which will be shown live on DAZN. It will be a homecoming for the Brummie, with the card hosted at the Resorts World Arena in Birmingham. His opponent, Brian Phillips, should be wary – Sulaimaan likes to put on a show in front of his home crowd, with his three previous fights in Birmingham ending in wins via stoppage.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Amir Khan pictured in good spirits with Anthony Joshua despite accusing him of sleeping with his wife - and admitting he'd 'lost a good friend'
Amir Khan looks to have buried the hatchet with Anthony Joshua despite sensationally accusing the heavyweight of sleeping with his wife. Joshua last stepped into the ring in his brutal fifth-round KO defeat at the hands of Daniel Dubois and was denied a speedy comeback after undergoing elbow surgery. Promoter Eddie Hearn expects the former two-time heavyweight champion to return before the end of 2025 before potentially finally taking on Tyson Fury next year. For now, Joshua has been making the most of his recovery period after jetting off on luxury trips to Saudi Arabia, Dubai and Oman. He had flown out to Ghana to watch Khan's first-ever show as a promoter and looked to be on good terms with the 38-year-old despite their past spat. The meeting came almost a decade after Khan took to social media to post several explosive tweets alleging Faryal Makhdoom had cheated on him with Joshua. Khan had also revealed he and his wife were getting a divorce. 'So me and the wife Faryal have agreed to split. I'm currently in Dubai. Wish her all the best,' Khan wrote in 2017. 'Faryal moved on quick. 'Always mentioned to me how much she wanted to be with another guy, from all people another boxer @AnthonyFJoshua. 'Lol moved up in the weight classes lol. Trust me I ain't the jealous type. No need to send me pictures of the men you're talking to #Disgusted. 'Left my family and friends for this Faryal. I'm not hurt but another fighter. I'm making it public. You getting the divorce #Golddigger. 'Mans like Joshua can have my leftovers!' In response, Joshua rubbished the allegations by sharing a video of Shaggy's hit 'It Wasn't Me' and adding: 'Bantz aside, I hope you guys can resolve your situation or this is a hack as we have never even met!' A few months later, Khan appeared to have patched up his feud with Joshua. Joshua denied having ever met Faryal and said: 'I hope you guys can resolve your situation' Just over a week later, Khan issued an apology to the heavyweight, who accepted Khan and Makhdoom have three children together and have been married since 2013 He wrote on X: '@anthonyfjoshua glad all is cleared up and all lies. I got angry like any man would. No truth to it. Good to know. All the best'. Joshua then replied: 'Apology accepted.' Khan admitted he had 'lost a good friend' after firing the accusations at Joshua and regrets the way he publicly called out the heavyweight. He also later reconciled with his wife, with whom he tied the knot in 2013. The couple have three children together, and also starred in their own BBC TV series in 2021.
The Independent
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Eddie Hearn warns Richardson Hitchins over ‘snakes' in camp after free-agency claim
Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has hit out at the entourage of world champion Richardson Hitchins, after the fighter declared himself a free agent – just moments after retaining his IBF super-lightweight title. Hitchins made the announcement in the New York City ring following his eighth-round stoppage of George Kambosos Jr, drawing a sharp response from Hearn, who has promoted the American for the past two years. 'I was disappointed with Richardson Hitchins's comments,' Hearn told The Ring. 'On one hand, he says Matchroom have completely changed his life in two years. And then he wants to tell the world he's a free agent. 'It didn't sit well with me, so I pulled him to one side quietly in the dressing room and told him how I felt. It left a really bad taste after all the investment we've made in his career.' In a separate interview with Boxing Scene, Hearn directed his criticism not at Hitchins himself, but at those around him. 'I did feel disrespected – but it's not him,' he said. 'It's just dogs around him. There's no loyalty in boxing. You've got to look after yourself, but when someone's come in when you were on the floor… 'I remember when I first met Richardson Hitchins, the door of his car was falling off. I've spent a lot of money and invested in a young man I really respect and admire.' Hearn went on to list the financial backing Matchroom had provided to help Hitchins become a world champion. 'I've boxed him at Madison Square Garden,' he said. 'I headlined him in Orlando when we didn't sell any tickets and lost money. I kept with it. I headlined him in Las Vegas – same story – and then paid for the opportunity to fight Liam Paro for the world title. 'Then I paid up for a big opponent in George Kambosos, paid up again for the big homecoming in New York. But Richardson's a good kid, he's just got some snakes around him. 'Those snakes will make you feel like they're your guy, but the reality is, they're bloodsuckers. Certain individuals are taking a bigger percentage – or the same – as the promoter bankrolling your entire path.' Hearn's final remarks were among his strongest, warning Hitchins of potential consequences if he were to walk away from the promotion. 'Managers have zero risk,' he said. 'They just let the promoter do all the work. A good manager is good for your career, I just understand the game, so it doesn't infuriate me. I just go: 'You're a dog. You'll get what's f*****g coming to you.' That's all. That's boxing.' Despite the tension, Hearn said he remains hopeful of working with Hitchins again, thanks in part to a private call with Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi adviser behind Riyadh Season boxing events. 'I had a heartwarming call from Turki Alalshikh this morning,' Hearn told The Ring, which is owned by Alalshikh. 'He confirmed he will only deal with Matchroom moving forward on Richardson Hitchins, so we'll begin those discussions.' That stance could significantly limit Hitchins's options, potentially ruling out future fights in Saudi Arabia, including lucrative unification bouts with other world champions.
