Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn says that he would like the opportunity to work with Conor McGregor before both of their careers are over but admits that the Irishman most likely doesn’t need his services.
Hearn handles some of the biggest names in combat sports with the likes of Gennady Golovkin, Katie Taylor and Anthony Joshua signed up to his stable of fighters. While McGregor’s relationship with both the UFC and Paradigm Sports Management means it is unlikely that any Hearn/McGregor collaboration is incoming, the boxing promoter says that he would relish the opportunity to handle a fighter like McGregor.
“I don’t know what’s happening with his career or fights,” Hearn said of McGregor to YouTube channel Seconds Out (via BJPenn.com). “I’m not really up to speed on the MMA and UFC side. But I do know, he’ll always be probably the biggest draw in UFC.
“I’d like to think so,” Hearn continued when asked if he would be interested should McGregor opt to return to boxing. “But he’s got a big enough brand, it’s almost like does he really need me? It’s a bit like Gennady Golovkin with us representing. He can do it himself, but we can do it better with him. Not for him, with him.”
“It’s very much once they get to those kinds of levels of partnership, where you say to someone ‘Conor look, we know you’re the boss, you’re the brand, but behind the scenes in terms of revenue, in terms of PR, in terms of profile, in terms of logistics, and of general management of your show to make your life easier, we’re as slick as they come. And that’s where the relationships come in with Gennady as well. And when you get those kinds of things it’s a big honour because those guys can go for anyone..and that’s big for us.”
Despite not being as clued up on the world of mixed martial arts as he is with boxing, Hearn is well aware of Conor McGregor. He attended the 2017 boxing match between McGregor and Floyd Mayweather in Las Vegas and remarked to The Mac Life at the time of how impressed he was with McGregor’s ability to promote a fight and command support from his legions of fans.
He even admits to being a little starstruck when the two eventually crossed paths.
“I’ve never met him before so,” Hearn said. “So he’s walking down the corridors of the fight. He’s got this massive aura, massive aura! So I was (actually) a bit in awe, you know. I just said ‘crikey can I have a photo mate?
“[He said] Hey Eddie how’re you doing?’ and I thought ‘fuck well, you know me?’ It was great to have him there.”
