Latest news with #Hearn
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Eddie Hearn ‘fuming' as he reveals fresh twist in Francisco Rodriguez drug-test case
Eddie Hearn has said he is 'fuming' upon learning that Francisco Rodriguez's failed drug test after beating Galal Yafai was the Mexican's second in six months. The Matchroom boss revealed he found out that Rodriguez Jr failed a drug test on the same day as his fight with Josue Jesus Morales in Texas last December. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has since confirmed to The Independent that Rodriguez did test positive, with the bout subsequently changed to a No Contest. Hearn told iFL TV: 'I'm fuming, I found out last night that Francisco Rodriguez Jr also failed a drug test in his fight before Galal Yafai. I went onto his BoxRec and noticed it was a No Contest in Texas. We reached out to the Texas commission, who confirmed he failed a drug test.' Rodriguez set a new flyweight record for punches landed in a fight on his way to defeating Yafai – 575 in total, over 100 more than the previous record. As Rodriguez Jr has failed drug tests in his last two fights, Hearn has urged the WBC not to order the rematch, as they are putting Yafai in a dangerous position, given he already took heavy punishment in the first fight. Hearn said: 'You've just put Galal Yafai in a position where he has fought a man with performance-enhancing drugs in his system over 12 rounds. Physically, he took a beating that night. That guy has failed tests in his last two fights. Whatever you do, do not order this rematch.' Yafai's promoter also questioned the due diligence of the sanctioning body for clearing Rodriguez in two weeks. Hearn explained: 'How do we get in a situation where, in two weeks of the news breaking about the test: he's gone through a process and they've decided it was an accident, he was unlucky, and the fight was a No Contest, the titles are vacant, but he gets to do it again?' After an investigation into his failed post-fight drug test, the WBC found that Rodriguez's 'ingestion of a banned substance was accidental, unintentional, unknowing, and not directed to enhance his performance' against Yafai. They stripped him of his interim title and ordered a rematch, as well as enrolling him in a WBC nutrition programme. Kenshiro Teraji is the current WBC champion in the flyweight division, and Hearn believes the appropriate course of action would be to make Yafai the mandatory challenger for Teraji's title. He said: 'Do what is right, which is to make Galal Yafai the mandatory challenger for the world title. This is a disgrace, that Galal Yafai has to rematch this guy.' A DAZN subscription provides access to over 185 fights a year across a range of combat sports from the world's best promoters.
The Independent
9 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Conor Benn eyes winner of welterweight title fight between Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker
Conor Benn could target a welterweight world champion in the near future, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn. Benn had been expected to face Chris Eubank Jr in a rematch of their epic first fight earlier this year, but the clash will no longer be happening in September. The second fight with Eubank Jr could now take place in November, but with Benn still waiting on official confirmation, Hearn has revealed he may turn his attention elsewhere. Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan are due to fight each other for the vacant IBF welterweight title in September, and Hearn has named Benn as a potential opponent for the winner of the all-Irish bout. 'You would always lend yourself to making an in-house fight for a world championship,' Hearn said. 'So in this situation, I think firstly Conor Benn is definitely looking at the winner of this fight and of course Jack Catterall, if he's staying at 147, to look at the winner for a world title.' Crocker and Donovan will be facing one another for a second time after their first fight ended in controversial circumstances. Donovan was winning on the scorecards and had his opponent in trouble, but was disqualified for knocking Crocker down heavily after the bell had rung for the end of the eighth round. He will be seeking revenge when the pair renew their rivalry at Belfast's Windsor Park on September 13. Hearn feels the victor will have plenty of options for their first title defence, and claimed it could take place in Ireland once again. 'Certainly if Paddy Donovan wins and you start looking at the names in the welterweight division,' Hearn explained. 'Like Ryan Garcia, like Devin Haney, like Shakur Stevenson, Teofimo Lopez, Conor Benn. That's fights that you can go down to Limerick with. 'But we know we're going to do big numbers in Belfast, and that's where we chose to go [for this fight].' DAZN is the home of combat sports, broadcasting over 185 fights a year from the world's best promoters, including Matchroom, Queensberry, Golden Boy, Misfits, PFL, BKFC, GLORY and more. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
Irish Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Eddie Hearn: 'I just don't think the people at Croke Park are fans of boxing'
Eddie Hearn has questioned how committed Croke Park and the GAA are to delivering a Katie Taylor fight. The undisputed super-lightweight champion has made clear her dream to fight at GAA Headquarters in recent years and again reiterated it after her recent win over Amanda Serrano. However, to date Hearn's Matchroom Boxing, Croke Park and the GAA have been unable to come to an agreement to stage an event at the stadium, with the cost of renting the venue a massive stumbling block. "When you look at Croke Park, I just don't think the people there are massive fans of boxing," Hearn told the Irish Mirror at Windsor Park on Monday. "I think they're fans of Katie Taylor, but I just don't think they really like boxing. But Katie Taylor is beyond boxing. "I mean, she's sport, but she's also history and heritage. And probably one of the greatest ever athletes from that country. Now you see the sports minister saying, after she beat Serrano, 'yeah, we should look at bringing Katie Taylor to Croke Park'. "We don't want handouts. We just want parity between Croke Park and Wembley Stadium in terms of the cost being the same. "But I don't know if she'll fight again. It probably is 50-50. And it's the first time I've ever heard her say, 'if I fight again'. But I think if we could go to Croke Park, that would certainly maybe twist her arm." Katie Taylor celebrates after defeating Amanda Serrano (Image:for Netfli) Hearn was speaking ahead of a press conference to promote the upcoming world welterweight title fight between Lewis Crocker and Paddy Donovan in Belfast. The bout takes place at Windsor Park on September 13 and the promoter says the IFA and Northern Ireland government really bought into the event. "We never want a handout. We just want a partnership where we can receive support to make it as big an event as we'd like to," he explained. "The Irish FA, the government and Windsor Park realised the magnitude of this event and how great it could be especially for a local boy like Lewis Crocker but also the history of fighting for a world championship."
Daily Mirror
19-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Chris Eubank Jr stance on Conor Benn rematch after 'scared to fight' accusation
Eddie Hearn revealed this week that plans for a rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Bonn on September 20 had been shelved, but Eubank Jr insists he hasn't pulled out of the fight Chris Eubank Jr wants his rematch with Conor Benn to take place in November. The plans for a September 20 showdown were shelved this week with Eddie Hearn pointing the finger of blame at Eubank Jr for pulling out of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium clash. But the Brighton boxer has not pulled out and instead wants more time to prepare for the rerun of the April fight he won on points. Eubank Jr, 35, is contracted to a rematch on the same terms when it comes to the middleweight limit and rehydration clauses. But he is not running away from the bout despite claims. Instead, he does not believe he will be ready for September. Eubank Jr's representatives have contacted Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh to notify him of this. Discussions are now ongoing for a November date with the fight either taking place in London or the Middle East. Eubank Jr wants it to be in London and talks are ongoing with Tottenham over a revised date but they may move indoors given the weather conditions at that time of year. Benn insists he doesn't want to wait and will move on from the bout to go back to welterweight and bid for a world title. He said: ''I'm not waiting. I'm not waiting around. I feel like my career has sort of been on hold to give the fans this fight, and I'm glad that the fight delivered, but now I've got to just tick the box off on my personal goals, which is winning a WBC world title. "It's either [moving back down to] 147lbs for me or the rematch. I'm ready to honour my side of the agreement, which was a two-fight deal [at middleweight] and it's safe to say he's scared. He almost lost. It could have gone either way. To a welterweight." Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua 's promoter Hearn has revealed a fight with Jake Paul is a realistic possibility. The American motor-mouth and YouTube star claimed he was up for facing the two-time world heavyweight champion. And Alalshikh wants to make it happen now which appears ludicrous given the size different and the fact Paul has so little boxing experience with most of his ring time gimmick fights. But Hearn said: 'Turki came in and said, 'I'm going to make that fight'," Hearn said. "Jake Paul's manager has come out and said, 'no one decides who Jake Paul fights but us'. I've got a smaller ego in this situation, which is quite remarkable!' Watch Usyk vs Dubois 2 live on DAZN £24.99 DAZN Order the fight here Product Description Hearn, who has held talks directly with Paul's team, believes the bout could keep Joshua busy while he waits for Tyson Fury to return. The Matchroom chief reckons both men will want fights against different opponents before facing each other next year. He added: "For us, we want to fight Tyson Fury, but we are going to fight before that Tyson Fury fight because Tyson Fury is not going to fight Anthony Joshua before spring or summer of 2026."
Irish Daily Mirror
14-07-2025
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Katie Taylor retirement latest as Eddie Hearn makes admission
Eddie Hearn says he 'would be very happy' if Katie Taylor decided to retire from boxing this week. The 39-year-old produced a brilliant performance to beat Amanda Serrano for a third time over the weekend and now has a decision to make on her future. Hearn, who has been Taylor's promoter for all 26 of her professional fights, is unsure what the undisputed super-lightweight champion will ultimately decide to do. But he admits she might have fought for the last time, with her majority-decision win at Madison Square Garden following two other victories over Serrano at the same venue in 2022 and in Texas last November. "It's the first time I've ever heard her say 'I'll see if I fight again'. I think at the moment, I honestly couldn't tell you with any confidence if she'll fight again," Hearn told the Irish Mirror. "But it was one of her best ever performances and it's very difficult to finish when you feel like 'I boxed really well'. "Her legs looked better than ever, her sharpness was better than ever so I honestly don't know. "If she turns around this week and says 'I'm done', I'd be very happy." On Taylor's performance, the Matchroom boss added: "We've never really experienced that sort of performance before or we haven't for many, many years. It was just phenomenal." Hearn was speaking after watching Andy Lee's newest fighter make a massive statement at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Flushing Meadows, Queens on Saturday. Hamzah Sheeraz knocked out Edgar Berlanga in the fifth round of their super-middleweight main event on the Turki Al-Sheikh-backed Ring Magazine card, having also knocked him down twice in the fourth. The Saudi promoter suggested after the bout that Sheeraz, having his first fight under Lee, could face Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez next year if the Mexican beats Terence Crawford in September. "It's just an unbelievable, unforgettable night," a very proud Lee said afterwards. "It's something that will last forever. That's the thing about boxing, when you have a great night like that it lasts forever." The Limerick man and former WBO world middleweight champion also paid tribute to Taylor following her MSG heroics. "Her legend grows and grows and grows," Lee added. "She was a legend years ago. You can't say anything but good things about her. "What a performance. She made it look easy. It was probably her best performance in years. She just breezed it."
