13 March 2024 , 10:15
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Jake Paul's business partner has branded Eddie Hearn a "hypocrite" after he called the YouTube star's upcoming fight against Mike Tyson "sad".
Paul, who has a 9-1 record as a professional boxer, is set to fight Tyson in July in an event that will be broadcast on Netflix. However, Hearn does not want to see 'Iron Mike' back in the ring again as he will be 58 at the time of his fight against Paul.
"You're probably asking the wrong person because I'm a hardcore boxing fan and Mike Tyson is one of my favourite fighters of all time, but it's a big event." Hearn told Mirror Fighting. "I find it quite sad that someone that's achieved as much as Mike Tyson is fighting at [his age] and could lose to Jake Paul.
"But money's money, and money does strange things." And when asked if he was "out of that game", having previously promoted the rematch between YouTube stars KSI and Logan Paul back in 2019, Hearn replied: "I have been for a long time, ever since I did KSI vs Logan Paul, but I get it.
"That's a weird one, because Mike Tyson doesn't necessarily appeal to that younger generation, but all of us know who he is and most of the world knows who he is as well. I just don't like the fact that he's nearly 60. I just don't think you should be fighting at that age."
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Nakisa Bidarian, who co-founded Most Valuable Promotions alongside Paul in 2021, has now hit back at Hearn. On social media, Bidarian called Hearn's comments "incredibly sad" and highlighted the fact he is hoping to stage a fight between Conor Benn and a 45-year-old Manny Pacquiao, who last fought professionally in 2021.
"It's incredibly ironic and, as usual, hypocritical of Eddie Hearn to talk negatively about another event," Bidarian said. "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.
Jake Paul's business partner Nakisa Bidarian has hit back at Hearn (Francois Nel/Getty Images)"It's incredibly sad. He spends more time speaking about other people's business than he does tending his own." Benn does not currently hold a British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) licence after he failed two drug tests for clomifene ahead of a scheduled fight against Chris Eubank Jr in 2022.
His suspension from fighting was lifted by the National Anti-Doping Panel last summer, but the BBBoC and UK Anti-Doping Agency are currently appealing the decision. As a result, Benn's recent bouts against Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson both took place in America under a US licence.
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