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Home » Eddie Hearn ‘jealous’ for UFC 249 criticism after staging YouTubers

Eddie Hearn ‘jealous’ for UFC 249 criticism after staging YouTubers

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  • 3 min read

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has been branded ‘jealous’ by fans after criticism of Dana White’s UFC 249 plans to stage fights at a private island.

White is plowing on with the event despite a global pandemic sweeping the world due to the COVID-19 coronavirus crisis.

Eddie Hearn

Hearn, who speaks out about everyone else’s business regularly, chipped in with his belief that the idea is down to ‘stubbornness’ on the part of the UFC boss.

“It’s unbelievable; I’d like to think that in boxing, there’s no one more roll your sleeves up and get on with it than me,” Hearn told Express Sport.

“But even I wouldn’t consider staging an event right now. I’m not even thinking about options, not even on the radar.

“This is stubbornness. Many things make him successful, but at some point, you have to sit back and say, ‘white flag.’ I’m pretty surprised ESPN is going ahead with this. They want ratings and money.

“But with Sky Sports and DAZN, I would not be allowed to stage events right now. It’s bad taste, to be quite honest.”

“He wants to be a trailblazer, but people have told him he can’t do it. But I know the feeling of being said something, and you do it anyway.

“Half of me admires him for cracking on, but the other half says, ‘come on, don’t be mad.'”

Fans are not convinced by Hearn’s public condemnation, with some believing the Essex man would jump at the chance to do similar had he thought of it first.

“Aww… Little Eddie is jealous,” said one.

YouTubers

Others stated: “Says the guy who put two YouTubers in the main event of a boxing event and relegated one of his champions (Billy Joe Saunders) into the co-main event.

“Nobody is on board with Eddie Hearn.”

“It is a risk, but if he pulls it off, then people will love him for it. If it goes t–s up and people catch the virus, then the shit will hit the fan.

“UFC is superb and raw anyway. The fights can still be amazing with no fans. The private island idea is bonkers.”

“Quit hatin’.”

Hearn added how the disease had affected his dealings: “It hasn’t affected our business too much. Financially we’re okay, other than some initial costs we couldn’t get back.

“We’ve built up a decent business over the last eight years. We’re in a strong position with good liquidity.”

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