Eddie Hearn ready to move fights to Saudi Arabia to ease schedule issues caused by coronavirus

[Ruthless-RKO]

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has said he is considering the possibility of moving fights overseas to combat the postponements caused by the coronavirus pandemic, with Saudi Arabia his preferred destination.

Hearn and his Matchroom Boxing operation have already had a number of high profile shows get delayed due to the outbreak, including Anthony Joshua's heavyweight world title fight against Kubrat Pulev, which was initially scheduled for June 20 at the new Tottenham Hotspur football stadium in London.

Hearn is therefore looking at Saudi Arabia - where Joshua reclaimed his world titles against Andy Ruiz Jr in December - as a potential solution as the Kingdom is likely to get the coronavirus under control sooner than the UK.

“I was due to have a show in Saudi Arabia in the first week of July, that is unlikely now," Hearn said, with some reports claiming that show would have been headlined by Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.

“I do think everywhere will be different, I don’t think all the global governments are going to get together and say something like: ‘From July 1, sport worldwide is allowed’.

“Some sports will start a lot sooner, in some countries, than others and Saudi could be one of the countries that gets on top of it sooner.

“We need to put these fights on somewhere, whether they are British title fights, our prospects, world title fights or pay-per-view fights.

“Ideally we would want them where we scheduled them but I also would not rule out the bigger fights going international.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

All you ever hear from Hearn's mouth now is 'Saudi'.

[mickey1975]

His heart must be breaking that he doesn’t hold all the cards anymore. He said Fury asked for four easy fights, he took two, went to LA and did the job. AJ got a real beating on his USA debut. I wouldn’t offer AJ 40%. If Camp Eddie thinks he’s got power, does he not know Bob Arum?

[KiwiRider]

All you ever hear from Hearn's mouth now is 'Saudi'.

I bet the Saudi intelligence have something on him. Enough to sway him into being the top mouthpiece for their regime.

[margaret thatcher]

Would we rather have fights in Saudi or no fights at all?

[Boxing Prospect]

Would we rather have fights in Saudi or no fights at all?

Right now. No fights.

[fizzjambo]

Would we rather have fights in Saudi or no fights at all?

None at all.

[Cyclops]

Would we rather have fights in Saudi or no fights at all?

F*ck Saudi Arabia.

[ILikeBeer]

Hearn wants to promote fights in financially rich country. Shocker.

[KiwiRider]

You know, if they didn't hand out all the complimentary tickets to those Saudi shows, so few people would be in the crowd, that social distancing wouldn't be an issue.

I still hate the idea.

[danconnollyeire]

In the words of no context Hearn “ohh how convenient”

[margaret thatcher]

Better the Saudis spend those millions and millions on boxing rather than chopping heads or oppressing women or funding 'terror'?

[fizzjambo]

Better the Saudis spend those millions and millions on boxing rather than chopping heads or oppressing women or funding 'terror'?

These events are held to help bring business into the country and open up further trade avenue’s, etc. Holding them only makes any of the points you make worse tbh as it legitimises such regimes.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Better the Saudis spend those millions and millions on boxing rather than chopping heads or oppressing women or funding 'terror'?

These events are held to help bring business into the country and open up further trade avenue’s, etc. Holding them only makes any of the points you make worse tbh as it legitimises such regimes.

Part of Saudi Vision 2030

[Cyclops]

Better the Saudis spend those millions and millions on boxing rather than chopping heads or oppressing women or funding 'terror'?

I think the first two are relatively inexpensive.