Eddie Hearn expressed disappointment with how the press conference for the upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight unfolded. The two fighters met to promote their December 11 showdown, and many anticipated a fiery confrontation filled with bold claims and intense energy. Instead, both Fury and Joshua approached the event with a measured tone—Fury unusually calm and composed, while Joshua maintained a positive and respectful demeanor. However, the main focus of the event wasn’t the fighters themselves but rather Max Kellerman.
Kellerman, the American sports commentator who moderated the event, captured much of the attention as he worked to build excitement for the bout. Despite his efforts, Hearn was critical of Kellerman’s style, feeling that the press conference dragged on and came off as overly scripted.
“I have to be honest. And I don’t mean any disrespect to Max Kellerman, who I think is a fantastic broadcaster; they should just let me handle it,” Hearn said. “It’s a bit too long-winded and, frankly, too staged.”
Hearn had hoped the focus would remain on the fighters, allowing them to interact naturally and generate anticipation through their exchanges. Confident in his own abilities to host such events, Hearn encouraged fans to watch the press conference he would be hosting for the upcoming Ben Whittaker vs. Conor Wallace fight, implying his approach is more genuine and engaging.
“Check out the press conference tomorrow with Ben Whittaker and Conor Wallace, which I’ll be hosting,” Hearn added. “Even when I talk about Jamie Ward—a terrific broadcaster—I feel it’s just not the same. Promoters who are willing to be on stage and stir excitement should be the ones running these things.”
While Hearn acknowledged the event was professional and respectful, he felt it lacked the spark and authenticity that boxing fans crave.
Fan Take: This moment highlights an ongoing debate in boxing about how to best build hype for major fights. For fans, having a press conference that feels genuine and dynamic can greatly amplify interest and bring more excitement to the sport. If promoters like Hearn get more control over these events, it could lead to livelier, more engaging build-ups that reignite the passion of fight fans worldwide.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
