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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Ben Davies

Eddie Hearn defends Simon Jordan despite being branded "a coward" by presenter

Eddie Hearn has insisted Simon Jordan does a "good job" despite being branded a coward by the radio presenter.

The Matchroom Boxing promoter was set to put on a huge all-British clash between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn at London's O2 arena earlier this month, but the fight was cancelled at late notice after Benn failed a drugs test. Hearn failed in his attempts to force the fight to take place after the British Boxing Board of Control prohibiting the fight.

When the news was announced, Hearn read a statement with Eubank Jr's promoter Kalle Sauerland and did not answer questions from the wider media after facing huge backlash from the event. After taking part in select interviews, talkSPORT presenter Jordan hit out at the 43-year-old accusing him of avoiding an appearance on his show.

He said during an appearance on the radio : "Eddie Hearn I think he is a coward, I think he has got to face the media who will ask proper questions not those power-puff pillow-fisted questions that were put to him. They were all staged and ultimately not answered and people need to ask proper questions who are capable of following up and interrogating them.

"Do you think Eddie Hearn has some serious explaining to do? Let's see if he has the courage and conviction to come on and listen to questions from people who can hold them?" Benn's promoter has since responded on an Instagram story when asked by a fan about the comments, writing: "I think he does a good job mostly. It can't be easy for him."

Benn will now face an investigation by the BBBofC and could face a ban of up to four years if he is found guilty of wrongdoing. The rising star has maintained his innocence throughout and has vowed to prove it and go on to reschedule the fight with Eubank Jr.

Eddie Hearn has recently faced criticism from Simon Jordan (PA)

What did you make of Simon Jordan's comments on Eddie Hearn? Let us know in the comments section below

Hearn suggested when breaking his silence in an interview with Matchroom Boxing that Benn deserves time to present the facts and expects new information to come to light. He said: “Obviously [Benn] has got a big fight on his hands. There’s a lot of information we know about the testing that will come to light. Everyone’s very quick to make their assumptions as always in this situation; we’ve seen it before with Dillian Whyte.

"Conor Benn will have the right to clear his name, people should let him do that. We wanted Conor Benn to have his opportunity, as many have before, to be heard. That will now happen post-fight, and obviously the fight [didn’t take] place. But let him have that time, let him have that moment. Let the facts come out and make your decision.”

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