Chris Eubank Jr is facing criticism for interrupting boxing promoter Eddie Hearn’s tribute to the late Ricky Hatton.
Hatton, one of the most successful and popular fighters of his generation, was found dead at his home in Greater Manchester on Sunday morning.
Hearn said he wanted to pay tribute to ‘The Hitman’ at the press conference for Conor Benn’s rematch against Eubank Jr on Wednesday evening but was immediately cut off by the latter.
Eubank Jr refused to let Hearn speak ahead of their first fight earlier in the year due to an ongoing feud and took the same stance at the recent press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
‘Just firstly, just a couple of words…’ Hearn said before being cut off by Eubank Jr, who won the thrilling first fight on points.
‘Just a couple of words…. 30 seconds about Ricky Hatton,’ Hearn then said before Eubank Jr added: ‘Eddie, come on, Eddie.
‘No, there are no 30 seconds, you know the drill. You know the drill, I am not going to listen to anything you say.’
Accepting he was not going to be allowed to talk, Hearn then fired back: ‘You are some a******e. All I was going to do was say a few words about Ricky Hatton. I won’t say anything, you’re an ae and you talk s*.’
Speaking to iFL TV after the press conference finished, Hearn said: ‘I wanted to say a few words (about Ricky Hatton) but wasn’t allowed to.
‘He knew what I was trying to talk about. He’s not a decent bloke, I’m telling you. He wants to portray himself as the people’s champion but I disagree.’
Hearn added on The Stomping Ground: ‘The mask slipped tonight. As for not just letting me say a few words about Ricky Hatton – when he knew I was trying to talk about Ricky Hatton – honestly I can’t have this bloke.’
Eubank Jr, meanwhile, accused Hearn of ‘using Ricky Hatton’s passing as a way to try and get to talk at a press conference’.
The Brighton fighter, son of legendary boxer Chris Eubank Sr, added that a Hatton tribute that was played on the big screen before the press conference started was ‘awesome’.
‘Imagine using Ricky Hatton’s passing as a way to try & get to talk at a press conference,’ Eubank Jr posted on social media.
‘New low from Hearn here. I apologise on Eddie’s behalf. Awesome tribute to Ricky at the start of the presser though… he really was a legend. Thoughts & prayers are with his family.’
A number of fans were critical of Eubank Jr despite his defence and former British boxer Tony Bellew said his reaction was ‘disappointing’.
Speaking on the DAZN broadcast, Bellew said: ‘I was a little bit disappointed because I wanted one of them to speak about Ricky Hatton.
‘Chris didn’t let that happen on stage, and I hope they address that in the interviews they’re doing now.
‘You’ve got to understand that Ricky Hatton paved the way for these two.
‘Their fathers are both legends, but Ricky Hatton is a big part of boxing and as big a part as anyone has played in the last two decades.’
Eubank Jr was among those to pay tribute to Hatton following his shocking death at the age of 46.
‘Rest in Peace, Mr Ricky Hatton. We salute you,’ he said.
Eubank Sr also reserved some heartwarming words for Hatton on an appearance on ITV’s This Morning, describing him as a ‘tremendous fighter who carried the nation for a while’.
‘I mean, what can I say? It’s a great loss for boxing,’ said Eubank Sr.
‘You have a man on him who carried the nation for a while in terms of pride and standards. In terms of boxing, he really was a tremendous fighter.’
More to follow…
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