Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn has been involved in some huge fights.
The promoter has worked with both UK and American stars such as Anthony Joshua, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez and Devin Haney and guided them to world titles and unifications as part of some of the biggest events in recent years.
The link up with Saudi Arabia’s Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, Turki Alalshikh, has also seen Hearn involved in some epic cards in the Middle East, and in September they will work together at Wembley Stadium when Joshua takes on Daniel Dubois in an all-British world heavyweight title fight as part of Riyadh Season.
There is plenty of movement in boxing’s blue riband division right now with Andy Ruiz Jr and Jarrell Miller fighting to a controversial draw and Martin Bakole stopping young American prospect Jared Anderson this past weekend.
Speaking to Box Nation afterwards, Hearn made it clear he wants to see Bakole in with Zhilei Zhang next.
“I love the fight, I tweeted it, Bakole vs Zhang, I love that, two absolutely colossal lumps.
I think Bakole beats him.
I couldn’t believe Anderson fought him because there’s no reward other than the respect of the boxing industry. Most people watching in America had no idea who Bakole was and his stock rose tonight but he’s still a ‘who wants to go near that guy’. I think with His Excellency as a fan, I’m sure he’ll pay up to make the big fights, but no one is going to be jumping through hoops to fight him.”
Hearn then shed some light on the infamous sparring stories that Bakole likes to share.
“I think he’s had some great spars, he had wars with AJ and you hear this ‘he dropped Usyk and dropped Dubois’, I’m sure he’s capable of dropping anyone.”
Zhang is open to a Bakole clash and has vowed to stop him inside five rounds.
