Eddie Hearn vs Frank Warren might be the most eagerly-awaited showdown of 2024 as the two great promotional rivals finally pit their wits against each other inside a boxing ring.
For so long the back and forth between the two great adversaries has been an entertaining subplot to the crazy script that is professional prizefighting. But now, all of a sudden, they are happily working together to make massive fights thanks to that huge backing from Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.
That new-found entente cordiale will be put on hold for one night later this year though when the two men send their respective stables into battle against each other on a special 5 vs 5 card in Saudi Arabia.
The Hearn vs Warren blockbuster is the latest brainchild of GEA Chairman Turki Alalshikh, the man who also has dreams of a Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua showdown later this year.
Hearn, speaking on Matchroom Boxing’s YouTube channel, has revealed what the latest is on that Warren showdown, including the working date for the big show.
Hearn vs Warren, the latest
He said: “There’s been loads of conversations and I think George [Warren] is just getting everything boxed off with Fury vs Usyk and then we’ll continue those discussions, looking at around June time for that fight. Loads of divisions being discussed – will there be a few signings, late signings within the transfer window to build the strength of the team? Who knows because we all want to win so bad. But it’s looking really good.
“Really, as I’ve said before it’s more like 12 vs 12 – there’s that many fights that we could do against each other that people would love. I said to George, maybe we have a little extension of that tournament in the UK, but there’s gonna be some big fights on that card and we’ll announce them all and the weight divisions on Joshua vs Ngannou fight week.”
The Hearn vs Warren showdown is the latest wrinkle in what is turning into a golden period for boxing thanks to that huge Saudi investment. Meaning fights which had looked impossible to make are now arriving thick and fast.
Last October Fury faced former UFC heavyweight king Francis Ngannou, before that enormous ‘Day of Reckoning’ card featuring Joshua and Deontay Wilder in December. Next we get the Fury vs Usyk unification blockbuster on February 17, followed by Joshua vs Ngannou on March 8.
Then, assuming Fury and Joshua are both victorious in their upcoming bouts, the spectre of that all-British megafight looms large. Watch this space.
