Matchroom Promoter Eddie Hearn Faces Defeat as All Five of His Fighters Lose in Saudi Arabia
In a surprising turn of events, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn experienced a significant setback as all five of his fighters were defeated in the highly anticipated Matchroom v Queensberry 5 vs 5 event held in Saudi Arabia.
Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, Craig Richards, Raymond Ford, Ammo Williams, and Filip Hrgovic all fell short against their Queensberry-promoted opponents, leaving Hearn’s team thoroughly routed by fellow promoter Frank Warren.
Hearn, visibly disappointed by the outcome, acknowledged the impressive nature of the event, stating,
“The whole night was incredible, the card was incredible, the build-up was incredible, but we wanted to win. It’s very disappointing to lose. Especially in that fashion, but very proud of the fighters, very proud of the concept, and we’ll be back for the rematch. Already got plans in place to run it back, and we shall do better next time.”
One particularly noteworthy bout saw Hearn’s WBA featherweight champion, Raymond Ford, lose his title in a closely contested battle against the relentless Nick Ball from Liverpool. Hearn, while acknowledging the tight nature of the decision, expressed his admiration for Ball’s performance, saying,
“If anyone was going to beat Ray in a tight decision, you’d want it to be a Brit, and I think Nick Ball is a very exciting fighter. I’ve made no secret of myself being a fan of Nick Ball, and I thought he was great tonight as well.”
As the night’s final fight saw Wilder face off against Zhilei Zhang, the former champion struggled to regain his former dominance, eventually succumbing to the Chinese fighter’s power in the fifth round. Hearn was asked whether Wilder should consider retirement, to which he responded,
“That’s a personal decision for him. He’s shown in the last two fights that he’s not the threat that he used to be, and he’s got to find the reason why. Is that because he doesn’t have it anymore? I don’t know.”
Hearn’s reflections on the event highlight the unpredictable nature of the sport of boxing, where even the most seasoned promoters and fighters can face unexpected setbacks. The rematch between Matchroom and Queensberry is eagerly anticipated, as Hearn and his team look to bounce back and reclaim their dominance in the ring.
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