In Eddie Hearn’s huge Essex office, a huge photograph of Muhammad Ali knocking out Sonny Liston hangs above his desk. Towards the door is a huge bottle of Courvoisier given to him by somebody he can’t remember. The office overlooks a huge garden with its helipad and attached forest. Hearn doesn’t understand the concept of small. He is a giant of a man, mega-successful, motor-mouthed, stonkingly wealthy, with a desire to best the opposition that verges on the pathological.
Take the relatively understated scoreboard on his cabinet, pitting him against his father, Barry – the founder of their Matchroom Sport empire and a rival for the title of Britain’s leading sport promoter, though he is now officially retired. “Boxing skills, 1-0 to Eddie. Snooker skills, 1-0 to Barry. Instagram followers, 62 to Barry, 1.2 million to Eddie.” And on it goes. “Amazon book reviews, 33 to Barry; 1,370 for Eddie. Height: Barry 6ft 2in, Eddie 6ft 5in. Golf handicap: Barry 19, Eddie 15.” The final score gives Eddie a 5-4 victory. To say that father and son are competitive is like saying Imelda Marcos had a fondness for footwear.
