Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn talks to Fight Hype about a number of topics in the boxing world including this weekend’s card featuring Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez, potential fights for Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach and more. Check out some of what he had to say below.
Hearn on Henry Garcia recently saying that Ryan is interested in fighting Boots
“[Laughs]. Come on, let’s be real, yeah. There’s no way in a million years they’re going to fight Boots. If they want it they can come out and they can fight Boots first fight back for the world welterweight title. No problem. But they won’t, but we’d love to make that fight happen.”
On whether Lamont Roach isn’t getting enough respect as a credible opponent against Gervonta Davis
“It’s going to bomb on PPV and at the gate but it’s actually not a bad fight. The problem is no one knows who Lamont Roach is. He is a good fighter, but he’s a super featherweight, he’s too small for Tank, but more importantly the general public, like the PPV bulk audience just don’t know who he is and that’s a problem when you’re selling a fight of that magnitude.
“So there will be a lot of people disappointed with that fight. Me, personally, I don’t think it’s a terrible fight but a hard one to sell.”
On what fights he thinks will make Boots and Bam breakthrough stars
“I mean the real star, the one that we really badly want which is Boots Ennis against Terence Crawford. I mean, that’s the fight that gives us generational greatness. For Bam, I love the Puma Martinez fight. I want to see Bam win all the belts in the division. I also like the Chocolatito fight, I think it’s a great fight, idols become rivals kind of stuff.
“But listen, they both got to get through their mandatories, I know Boots is expected to win. I’ve got to tell you, Bam is in a tough fight this weekend, and this is a tremendous card. Not only do you got Boots, you got Bam, you got Ray Ford. For me, I think this kid could already be one of the top 130 pounders in the world, former world champion at 126, should actually still be world champion. And you got Tito Mercado in a really tough fight. He’s a lot of fun at 140, he’s going to be a major player if he can win on Saturday.
“And look out for Khalil Coe. This guy is a future champion at 175 pounds, no doubt. Ammo Williams back on the card, you got Zaquin Moses, one of the best fight cards of the year.”
On a potential rematch between Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia
“I’m not mad for the rematch but I think it’ll sell quite well. I don’t think that Ryan will take that rematch…everything depends on the weight.”
On if he thinks a Teofimo Lopez vs Ryan Garcia fight is one that could likely happen
“Honestly, I think Teofimo is all over the place, all over the place.”