Promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren agree historic five-fight deal

19 January 2024 , 08:50

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Promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren agree historic five-fight deal

Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have officially signed a contract to pit five of their fighters against their rival's stable.

For years Hearn and Warren had never met as they steered their fighters in different directions, but Saudi Arabia's spending power brought them together last year when Anthony Joshua fought Otto Wallin two days before Christmas. The pair are working together again ahead of Joshua's clash with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou and have now cemented their new working relationship.

Hearn and Warren will put on a card in the Kingdom featuring 10 of their best fighters to determine bragging rights between the promotional powerhouses. And after signing the deal yesterday, Hearn said: "The friendship lasted a few weeks but now it’s WAR! Tonight we signed an agreement to make it happen! Matchroom vs Queensbury, 5 v 5. Assemble the troops victory is an absolute must!"

The Matchroom vs Queensbury card could feature Joshua vs Tyson Fury should the former beat Ngannou and Fury overcomes Oleksandr Usyk in their undisputed heavyweight world title fight on February 17. Hearn has also proposed a light-heavyweight match-up between Callum Smith and Anthony Yarde.

Hearn has big ambitions for the event, and could even turn it into a reality TV show. "I think His Excellency saw the response of me and Frank being together at the press conference and said he wanted Matchroom vs Queensbury," he told Mirror Fighting.

Eddie Hearn opens talks for Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou heavyweight fight

"I'm talking about a reality show around it, we're talking about a bonus for the team so even if you get beat you can still cheer on your teammates to win 3-2. You've got so many great fights all the way down."

No date has been set for the event but should Joshua and Fury come through their nect fights unscathed, talks are likely to start over an undisputed fight between the two Brits. Such an agreement would rely on mandatory challenger Filip Hrgovic agreeing to step aside to allow the clash to take place.

Martin Domin