Matchroom Sports promoter Eddie Hearn announced he tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday. Hearn’s organization is scheduled to host a card this Sunday, but as a result of the test he needed to leave the bubble inside Marshall Arena in Buckinghamshire, England. Sunday’s card remains on and will be headlined by a 10-round light heavyweight battle between Joshua Buatsi and Marko Calic.
“Gutted to just find out I tested positive for Covid-19 today and have to leave the bubble immediately,” tweeted Hearn. “Thankfully all other tests were negative. Heading home to rest — catch up tomorrow.”
Hearn, 41, promotes such fighters as unified heavyweight titlist Anthony Joshua, undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor, super middleweight world titlist Callum Smith, middleweight titlist Gennadiy Golovkin and lightweight titleholder Devin Haney, among others.
During the coronavirus pandemic, Hearn, one of the biggest promoters in boxing, started his “Fight Camp” series in the backyard of the Matchroom headquarters in Brentwood, England. Beginning on Aug 1 he staged fight cards without fans, following the restrictions of the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC).
Fights have since moved back indoors, to which Hearn expressed his frustration during a recent media conference call. “I feel so much more comfortable doing it outside rather than in a small studio with people sweating and bleeding, PPE or no PPE — it’s a very different feel to it outside,” he said.
Information from ESPN UK boxing writer Nick Parkinson was used in this report.