Dear Eddie Hearn,
We at GQ hope you are well. We understand you are out of the country at the moment, but we wanted to write to you to discuss the world heavyweight boxing scene at the moment.
Firstly, congratulations on the organisation of Anthony Joshua’s international professional debut at the mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden, New York. Great-looking event, media coverage has been exceptional (as ever) and the undercard is decent. And now you’ve even got your own podcast. Good for you.
Tyson Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, and Deontay Wilder’s main man, Shelly Finkel, on why these big fights aren’t happening. But Eddie, as the man who has guided AJ’s career from the day he turned pro, as the man who has helped AJ secure the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles, you simply have to deliver the super fights. And we would like to know why you aren’t. Or can’t.
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Joshua clearly wants to fight Wilder and Fury. GQ has discussed this with AJ many times and he is adamant he wants a showdown with both men. He wants the WBC belt that Wilder has and he wants an all-British clash with Fury.
Earlier this year we even spoke with the lineal heavyweight champion, the Gypsy King, who has never dodged a fight in his career, and he wants those fights.
And back in 2017, Wilder said this to GQ: “Instead of ducking each other, we [the fighters] want to get it on. It’s an exciting time. And personally, that’s what I want to do. I want to unify the division, get my hands on all the belts so there is no confusion and no debate.”
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Well, here we are in 2019 and all we have is confusion and endless debate, Eddie. And we want to know what you and Matchroom Boxing intend to do about it. So far, all we have heard have been reasons why you haven’t been able to make these fights. So far, you have said:
“Wilder’s camp won’t sit down and negotiate.”
“Fury’s team wouldn’t accept a 60-40 split. They want 50-50 and that’s madness.”
“Like I tell people all the time, I just want them to have patience. The big fights will come.”
“My plan is to make Joshua the undisputed heavyweight champion in 2018.”
You will forgive us, Eddie, but all these statements are excuses, platitudes and promises that you have failed to deliver on.
Now, the British boxing fans understand that Wilder’s people are tough to negotiate with. And yet Frank Warren was able to make a fight between Fury and Wilder. So why can’t you?
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And British boxing fans have been patient. Since AJ defeated Wladimir Klitschko back in April 2017, we have all watched and paid for the right to see Big Josh beat Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin... and now we are patiently waiting for him to fight Andy Ruiz Jr. And, let’s be honest, Eddie, when we saw the Mexican-American on the stage before the face-off he looked like a competition winner. And we suppose he is really. But fight fans are the losers.
“He’s got great hand speed, a boxing brain and he’s tough. Make no mistake, AJ has a fight on his hands,” you said. He hasn’t really, though, has he, Eddie? This is the kind of fight you can make if AJ is ticking off a mandatory. It’s a tick-over fight. A US introduction. A money maker. A safe bet.
And now our patience is wearing thin. And you are still charging pay-per-view prices for fights that don’t deserve it. So the question stands: when will the big fights come?
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As AJ’s promoter, that is on you. No one doubts you have been fantastic for building the profile of British boxing. We like you, Eddie, we always have. You and your dad, Barry, have transformed the sport from small halls to iconic British stadium fights, 90,000 fans at Wembley – we’ve been with you all the way. But now you have to deliver.
If you can’t, maybe it is time for you to step aside and let someone else do it.
This could – and should – be a golden era of heavyweight boxing, but until you make the fights it simply won’t be.
We at GQ, and the British boxing public, very much look forward to hearing from you on this.
Best wishes,
GQ
Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr: an open letter to Eddie Hearn | British GQ
We at GQ hope you are well. We understand you are out of the country at the moment, but we wanted to write to you to discuss the world heavyweight boxing scene at the moment.
Firstly, congratulations on the organisation of Anthony Joshua’s international professional debut at the mecca of boxing, Madison Square Garden, New York. Great-looking event, media coverage has been exceptional (as ever) and the undercard is decent. And now you’ve even got your own podcast. Good for you.
Tyson Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, and Deontay Wilder’s main man, Shelly Finkel, on why these big fights aren’t happening. But Eddie, as the man who has guided AJ’s career from the day he turned pro, as the man who has helped AJ secure the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles, you simply have to deliver the super fights. And we would like to know why you aren’t. Or can’t.
GETTY IMAGES
Joshua clearly wants to fight Wilder and Fury. GQ has discussed this with AJ many times and he is adamant he wants a showdown with both men. He wants the WBC belt that Wilder has and he wants an all-British clash with Fury.
Earlier this year we even spoke with the lineal heavyweight champion, the Gypsy King, who has never dodged a fight in his career, and he wants those fights.
And back in 2017, Wilder said this to GQ: “Instead of ducking each other, we [the fighters] want to get it on. It’s an exciting time. And personally, that’s what I want to do. I want to unify the division, get my hands on all the belts so there is no confusion and no debate.”
GETTY IMAGES
Well, here we are in 2019 and all we have is confusion and endless debate, Eddie. And we want to know what you and Matchroom Boxing intend to do about it. So far, all we have heard have been reasons why you haven’t been able to make these fights. So far, you have said:
“Wilder’s camp won’t sit down and negotiate.”
“Fury’s team wouldn’t accept a 60-40 split. They want 50-50 and that’s madness.”
“Like I tell people all the time, I just want them to have patience. The big fights will come.”
“My plan is to make Joshua the undisputed heavyweight champion in 2018.”
You will forgive us, Eddie, but all these statements are excuses, platitudes and promises that you have failed to deliver on.
Now, the British boxing fans understand that Wilder’s people are tough to negotiate with. And yet Frank Warren was able to make a fight between Fury and Wilder. So why can’t you?
GETTY IMAGES
And British boxing fans have been patient. Since AJ defeated Wladimir Klitschko back in April 2017, we have all watched and paid for the right to see Big Josh beat Carlos Takam, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin... and now we are patiently waiting for him to fight Andy Ruiz Jr. And, let’s be honest, Eddie, when we saw the Mexican-American on the stage before the face-off he looked like a competition winner. And we suppose he is really. But fight fans are the losers.
“He’s got great hand speed, a boxing brain and he’s tough. Make no mistake, AJ has a fight on his hands,” you said. He hasn’t really, though, has he, Eddie? This is the kind of fight you can make if AJ is ticking off a mandatory. It’s a tick-over fight. A US introduction. A money maker. A safe bet.
And now our patience is wearing thin. And you are still charging pay-per-view prices for fights that don’t deserve it. So the question stands: when will the big fights come?
GETTY IMAGES
As AJ’s promoter, that is on you. No one doubts you have been fantastic for building the profile of British boxing. We like you, Eddie, we always have. You and your dad, Barry, have transformed the sport from small halls to iconic British stadium fights, 90,000 fans at Wembley – we’ve been with you all the way. But now you have to deliver.
If you can’t, maybe it is time for you to step aside and let someone else do it.
This could – and should – be a golden era of heavyweight boxing, but until you make the fights it simply won’t be.
We at GQ, and the British boxing public, very much look forward to hearing from you on this.
Best wishes,
GQ
Anthony Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr: an open letter to Eddie Hearn | British GQ
