Eddie Hearn was told by an official he would be denied entry to his own fighter’s press conference following the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson clash.
In the co-headline bout of Friday’s landmark event at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, Matchroom Boxing’s Katie Taylor once again defeated Amanda Serrano in an instant classic to retain her undisputed light-welterweight title.
However, as the Irishwoman went to attend her post-fight media duties, she was informed that promoter Hearn would not be welcome to join her at the press conference, though it is not clear exactly why.
Taylor’s manager Brian Peters ultimately served the official an ultimatum insisting that the group would walk out if Hearn was not allowed to join them.
A video later shared widely on social media saw Peters make his position abundantly clear.
‘Are you joking? Are you out of your mind?’ He asked the official. ‘Everyone else gets three people up. Don’t be acting this s***.’
Katie Taylor defeated Amanda Serrano to retain her undisputed crown on Friday night
As the 38-year-old prepared to attend her post-fight press conference an official indicated that Eddie Hearn would not be welcome on the stage
The official ultimately relented and Hearn was able to share the stage with his fighter
‘Three people go up or not at all. Come on, big boy, make your decision now. Very simple.’
He added: ‘She’s going up with the two of us, that’s the way it’s going.’
The unknown official eventually relented and Hearn was able to join Taylor on stage as she celebrated the 24th victory of her professional career.
At the press conference Hearn detailed his joy in Taylor claiming a second victory over Serrano, after clips from immediately following the decision being read out showed an elated Hearn literally jumping for joy.
‘If they would have won, they would have gone absolutely mental like me.’ Hearn said.
‘I went mental. I made an idiot out of myself. I said to the geezer, “If I offended anyone, I apologise.” But that’s just what it meant to me. I’m never gonna not show that emotion because the journey we’ve been on has just been incredible and I wanted her to win so badly.
‘I worried, if it was close, if we would get the decision and also probably in the build-up, a lot of big fights going against us.’
While Taylor’s win cemented her status as the No 1 pound-for-pound female boxer on the planet, there was significant controversy surrounding the decision going her way.
Compubox stats post-fight showed Serrano had outlanded her opponent 324 to 217 in total punches whilst also having the edge in nine of the ten two-minute rounds.
Despite being outlanded and having a point deducted, Taylor prevailed on all three judges’ scorecards
The victory marked the 24th of his glittering career since turning professional in 2016
Hearn’s snub comes amidst an ongoing legal case between he and Serrano’s promoter, Jake Paul
Pair had worked together on Taylor initial clash with Serrano at Madison Square Garden in 2022
However, their relationship soured after Paul made the unfounded accusation of corruption against a judge, leading to Hearn filing a defamation suit against the American with the judge joining the lawsuit
Taylor also had a point deducted in the eighth round for a clash of heads, but ultimately prevailed 95-94 on all three scorecards.
The incident comes amidst an ongoing feud between Hearn and Paul that has led to ongoing legal action.
Hearn had actually promoted Paul’s first fight as a professional, as the American defeated AnEsonGib in Florida to launch his burgeoning in-ring career.
Then, in 2022 the pair came head-to-head as Taylor and Serrano made history as the first women to headline a boxing event at Madison Square Garden.
After a 10-round battle, Taylor emerged victorious on the judges’ scorecards via split decision, with the ruling infuriating her promoter Paul.
He later made an unfounded accusation of corruption against veteran boxing judge Glenn Feldman, noting both the first clash between Taylor and Serrano and the rematch between Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in 2022, which Feldman scored in favour of AJ.
Hearn then launched a defamation lawsuit against Paul in New York court, seeking $100million in damages, with Feldman later joining as a co-plaintiff.
Paul responded with a suit of his own, with the case still ongoing.
