Bob Arum warns Eddie Hearn!
On September 14, Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury (29-0-1, 20 KO’s) fought the little known Otto Wallin (20-1, 13 KO’s) at the T-Mobile Arena.
Prior to the fight, Wallin was a relative unknown. So little information was available on him that he might as well have been plucked from the Witness Protection Program. This is why few, if any, credible boxing outlets were giving him a reasonable chance at victory.
In the ring, however, Wallin put up a much greater fight than most thought he would. A horrific cut would open on Fury’s right eye in the third round, substantially aiding Wallin’s efforts.
“It was a great test, he got a lot of work. I mean it gets him ready for the Wilder fight next year.
“[…] it just goes to show, you can’t really listen to the naysayers without really examining what they are talking about. You know Eddie Hearn said this was a disgrace, that Wallin, you know didn’t belong.
“He’d never seen Wallin fight! I mean, it’s just bullshit! […] we had seen him fight and we knew the kind of fighter he was and the kind of performance that he would do.
“You can’t listen to guys like Eddie Hearn who know shit about boxing and just open and flap their mouths and come over here to the United States and don’t have a clue about our culture or how to promote or anything like that!”
Before the prizefight, rival promoter Eddie Hearn was very vocal and critical on Wallin’s obscurity. Hearn also assured that the ticket sales for the Las Vegas event were lagging as well.
Naturally, Bob Arum of Top Rank, who promoted the Fury v Wallin bout, took great offense to the slanderous comments. It should come as no surprise that Arum swiftly returned fire.
During the past few months, through the media, Arum and Hearn have routinely traded barbs with one another.
Following he fight, Arum felt the need to take a few more shots at Hearn. Given how critical Hearn was before the bout, it should be no surprise that Arum would defend his charge.
Before the seasoned promoter dug in on the Fury/Wallin criticism, Arum slid in his own wisecracks about Matchroom’s handling of fighter Devin “The Dream” Haney (23-0, 15 KO’s).
“Devin Haney is a very, very good fighter. I just hope that they’re taking their time with him because he does have the talent to be really be a star.
“If they’re going to rush him, and in the hands of Eddie Hearn who doesn’t know crap about boxing, that’s a danger, he may flame out!”
In the end however, promoters trashing one another is about as surprising as getting wet in a rain storm. It’s what they are supposed to do. It’s essentially a vital part of their daily function as a promoter.
Of course, some situations get more serious than others. Yet, at the moment, this appears to be your standard issued bad mouthing.
“Eddie’s got to stop talking about my fighters and other fighters of other promoters or else we’re going to put a tortious interference suit right up his ass and it’ll float right back to England!”
By: Bakari Simpson
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