EDDIE HEARN thought he was “going to have a heart attack” during the epic fight between Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi.
The Brit light-heavyweight duo put on an early contender for Fight of the Year on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev’s rematch with Dmitry Bivol last Saturday.
Callum Smith and Joshua Buatsi went to war in Saudi Arabia last weekend[/caption]
Smith edged a thrilling contest via unanimous decision[/caption]
Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn’s heart rate was racing during the fight[/caption]
Smith emerged victorious from the back-and-forth contest, ending Buatsi’s undefeated record to claim the interim WBO 175lbs title.
And all the drama had the heart of Smith promoter Hearn racing at a million miles an hour – so much so that he became a bit dizzy.
He told The Stomping Ground: “I actually thought I was going to have a heart attack tonight. I really did.
“During the Callum Smith fight, I sat down and felt a bit dizzy.
“I do often wonder… you never know when you’re on the verge of keeling over, do you?
“I was thinking to myself, ‘If the Good lord took me now, it wouldn’t be a bad way to go.’ Would it?’”
Hearn was blown away by the grit and guts shown by Liverpudlian Smith, telling DAZN: “Callum Smith was unbelievable.
“What a fight. That was an incredible domestic tussle. I’m very proud of Callum, I thought it was a brilliant performance.
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Eddie Hearn was blown away by Dmitry Bivol’s performance in his rematch with Artur Beterbiev[/caption]
“Shoutout to Buatsi as well because he was tough as old boots but the right man won.”
Hearn’s heart rate was undoubtedly elevated during the epic rematch between Beterbiev and Bivol, in which the latter exacted his revenge 133 days after losing their first thriller.
He said: “I think a lot of people felt he [Bivol] won the first fight. It was obviously very close.
‘It was one of the best performances I’ve ever witnessed.
“I thought he won the first two rounds and then Beterbiev won the next three I think but it was the way he won them.
“What Bivol did was just incredible, young fighters should look at the way he boxed.
“To do that to Beterbiev, who is an absolute beast and one of the greatest fighters of our generation.
“It’s the kind of performance that cements you as a pound-for-pound king.”
