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Hearn claims Warren has made 'a mistake' in allowing Wardley-Huni showdown
Eddie Hearn says he “could not believe” Justis Huni was given the opportunity to fight Fabio Wardley at Portman Road on June 7, live on DAZN.
Wardley will take on Australian Huni at the home of his beloved Ipswich Town after his initial opponent Jarrell Miller pulled out with a shoulder injury.
Miller had been scheduled to face Anthony Joshua in New York City before Andy Ruiz replaced him six years ago and famously beat the Englishman.
Hearn, of Matchroom Boxing, used to represent Wardley before the Ipswich fan defected to Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions.
Hearn suggested that rival promoter Warren had made a huge mistake by putting Wardley into the ring with Huni.
Hearn, speaking at Wednesday’s press conference ahead of next month’s fight, said: “Firstly, thank you everybody for allowing Justis Huni the opportunity in this fight.
“I couldn’t believe it when we got the call, honestly.
“It’s going to be just over six years since Anthony Joshua lost to Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden and the similarities are so similar.
“We were fighting Jarrell Miller and about four weeks before he pulled out of the fight [with Joshua].
“We were so confident and, like Frank, we wanted to deliver a great fight for the fans and the broadcasters.
“But we probably chose the wrong fight and this is a carbon copy of that – I really believe that.
“I’m happy and sad. Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy that Justis is going to get the chance to announce himself on the world stage.
“I’m just a little bit sad for Fabio because I thought he would beat Jarrell Miller and I was quite looking forward to seeing it.
“Now we’ve got to go and ruin everything – the dream, the fairytale, and it’s a tough one because he’s a lovely fellow.”
Hearn attempted to turn up the heat on Wardley by adding: “The pressure is massive on Fabio Wardley – massive – but one thing I will say is that we have two world-class fighters.
“I think this is the first time they have fought at world level – two undefeated heavyweights.
“This man [Huni] is a serious fighter and he’s being underestimated.
“Like I say, we could not believe it when we got the call and that’s because Frank, DAZN and Fabio wanted a real fight. And they’ve got a real fight on June 7.”
Hearn said rival promoter Warren had “forgotten more about boxing than I know” but suggested he had erred by putting Wardley into the ring with Huni.
“It’s very, very unusual for Frank to make a mistake like this,” said Hearn.
“It’s like our new-found friendship has lulled him into a false sense of security.”
Asked if he had been hoodwinked into accepting the fight for Wardley, Warren replied: “I genuinely, genuinely believe in Fabio.
“That’s why we’re here and that’s the investment we’ve made in Fabio.
“We believe by putting him on in this stadium that it will make his appeal bigger as far as the world of boxing is concerned – how well he’s done and how he represents Ipswich.
“For me, he’s in with another great fighter but Fabio is a great fighter and a beast in the ring. When he gets in there, he does the business.”
