Jake Paul’s manager has hit back at Eddie Hearn’s criticism of the Mike Tyson fight taking place this summer, labelling the Matchroom chief a ‘hypocrite’.
On Thursday, it was announced Paul, 27, will fight heavyweight legend Tyson, 57, on 20 July in a bout set to be streamed globally on Netflix.
With 30 years separating the two and with Tyson long-retired from professional boxing, the fight has attracted widespread criticism with Hearn describing it as ‘incredibly sad’.
‘I guess if you criticise it you’re a hater, aren’t you? So I’m probably not the best person to ask because I love the sport of boxing,’ Hearn said.
‘So I find it incredibly sad, but it’s a big event, you can’t deny that.
‘But is he 60 yet, Mike Tyson? 58? Something like that? One of the greatest fighters that ever lived.
‘But I’m one of a small per cent of absolute mad boxing lovers that it actually breaks my heart to see that.’
The Paul vs Tyson announcement came amid rumours this week that Conor Benn, promoted by Hearn, is set to face ring legend Manny Pacquiao at the end of the year.
45-year-old Pacquaio, an eight-weight world champion, retired from boxing in 2021 after suffering heavy damage in a one-sided defeat to Yordenis Ugas. Hearn has confirmed talks are taking place for that bout to take place.
Responding to Hearn’s comments on Paul vs Tyson, Paul’s manager Nakisa Bidarian said: ‘It’s incredibly ironic and, as usual, hypocritical of Eddie Hearn to talk negatively about another event.
‘Eddie was standing between Manny Pacquiao, a very small-statured 45-year-old man, and his next opponent, a 27-year-old Matchroom fighter who has had issues getting licensed in the UK to box again.
‘It’s incredibly sad. He spends more time speaking about other people’s business than he does tending his own.’
Benn has been fighting to clear his name for the last two years following two failed drug tests in the lead up to his doomed fight against Chris Eubank Jr in October 2022.
His suspension was later lifted by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) in July but that decision has been appealed by the British Board of Boxing Control (BBBofC) and UK Anti-Doping.
Benn has fought twice in the last six months in American on a US licence in Florida and Las Vegas.
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