Eddie Hearn, promoter of IBF, WBA bantamweight champion Ryan Burnett (18-0, 9 KOs), has no issue being a bad guy with the fans - when he explains why his fighter will not have a unification with WBO champion Zolani Tete (26-3, 21 KOs) in the near future.
Tete and his promoter Frank Warren have been applying a lot of public pressure to secure a clash with Burnett.
The pressure was raised last month, when Tete fought in Burnett's backyard of Belfast and blasted out countryman Siboniso Gonya in eleven seconds to set a world record for the quickest knockout ever in a boxing match.
During an interview with Ringside's Toe2Toe podcast, Hearn explained that Tete is a very hard, very dangerous fight - that brings a lot of risk with very little reward.
Hearn explains that Burnett can make the same amount of money for a normal world title defense as he would for a unification with Tete.
The Matchroom promoter wants Burnett to be in a very good financial position before he allows his man to go in the direction of a Tete fight.
“I will be very honest about the Burnett-Tete fight and tell you that is a tough, tough, tough fight. Tete is an excellent fighter, as is Ryan Burnett, and l by the way it’s an unbelievable fight and sooner or later we’ll have to take it because that is what you want to do,” Hearn said.
“Ryan Burnett earns the same money for a voluntary defence than he does to fight Zolani Tete. Ryan Burnett wants to fight the very best but, call me the bad guy, I will not let him fight Zolani Tete for average money. No! Unless we get to a position, and this is a bit like Anthony Joshua, where everything’s secure, I want to build Ryan Burnett’s financial legacy.
“I want him to have his house all paid off. I want him to leave the sport of boxing saying ‘I can’t believe I’ve done it, I’ve won World titles, I’ve got my houses, I am all set for the future. We’re not there yet, we are nowhere near there yet. If we are going to gamble, gamble big. Against Tete, we are not gambling big. What are we gambling for? Yeah we are gambling for respect, we are gambling for credibility, we are gambling for a belt, but you can’t eat credibility, respect, or a belt.
“I would not forgive myself if I put a fighter in a fight that difficult for poor money and we lose it all for just trying to do the right thing for a couple of blokes on the internet. I’m sorry, that’s the truth of it. The buck stops with me. Fighters need to be protected from themselves. If it was up to Ryan Burnett, he would fight Tete next, no problem. It’s our job to protect them in the toughest sport of all. I’m just being honest with you, the Tete fight will not be next."