Eddie Hearn makes no apologies for the way his emotions get the best of him on nights where his clients produce stirring, odds-beating wins.
The head of Matchroom Boxing recently recounted his famous show of exuberance in May 2012, when his charge Carl Froch drubbed then IBF 168-pound champion Lucian Bute in five rounds in Froch’s hometown of Nottingham.
Froch’s fight-ending combinations forced the referee to halt the bout in the fifth, spurring a still somewhat tender-footed Hearn to launch out of his ringside seat and into the ring, throwing himself over his newly crowned fighter. At the time, Froch was coming off a title unification loss to Andre Ward.
While Hearn conceded that such behavior is not exactly advisable, he stressed that because he has formed close friendships with many of his boxers such a response is to be expected.
Nearly 10 years later, Hearn expects he will act just as jubilantly on Aug. 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, when his charge Anthony Joshua tries to reclaim his WBA, WBO, and IBF heavyweight titles from Oleksandr Usyk in their highly anticipated rematch.
“It’s emotional, talking about Carl Froch,” Hearn said on BBC 5 Live Boxing. “You all remember me jumping into the ring. It’s because you have relationships with these people. I remember driving to Carl Froch’s house when I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, shaking, hoping he would sign a contract. Through that career when he beats Bute, the emotions take over.
“Same with this fight. I and when AJ beats Usyk, I’m gonna go absolutely potty. He’s a friend of ours. You don’t have to speak everyday, but you share something in the journey together. He’s put his whole career in our hands. When he wins this fight I’m gonna behave like a right clown to be honest with you.”
