Eddie Hearn: THE Top 5 fights I’ve seen as a boxing promoter

And he still has Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to look forward to later in the year following many near-misses and delays to the much anticipated clash.

And who knows, maybe one of these bouts will rival the top five fights of his career, as he exclusively revealed to Paddy Power ahead of the Croke Park showdown…

Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano – 2022

Katie’s worked with Matchroom since turning pro in 2013 and the pinnacle of the relationship according to Barry was an unforgettable night in April, 2022 when Ireland’s finest pugilist went to hell and back against Amanda Serrano in a 10-round war.

It was the first-ever women’s boxing match to headline a Madison Square Garden card, and lived up to the occasion as the fighters were only separated by a split decision, with Taylor – naturally – victorious. Two further rematches followed, though the New York epic will probably go down in history as her greatest ever bout, and Eddie’s in no doubt it’s in his top five ever.

Canelo Alvarez v Billy Joe Saunders – 2021

Hearn pushed hard to secure a bout for Alvarez to face WBO titleholder and undefeated two-weight world champion Saunders in Texas back in 2021. The fight had been hit by several delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic – but Alvarez seized his chance on the night.

The Mexican stepped up to the challenge and forced an eighth-round retirement from Saunders to snatch away his WBO super-middleweight tittle belt and claim a spot in Hearn’s Top 5.

Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko – 2017

After months of talk, AJ was finally given his desired showdown against the legendary Ukrainian. Klitschko stepped into the ring at the ripe age of 41, and the pre-fight build-up had been dominated by talk of an unfair match against Joshua at Wembley Stadium.

Despite the odds being against him, Klitschko twice go back up off the canvas before Joshua’s third knockdown ended the contest in tee 11th with a slugfest which almost went the full 12 rounds giving Hearn’s punters value for money.

Tony Bellew v Ilunga Makabu – 2016

Scouser Bellew secured the fight of his dreams at Goodison Park in 2016 for the WBC cruiserweight title. In front of pumped crowd, boyhood Evertonian Bellew battled back to claim his first-ever world title to set up a date with destiny up against David Haye.

Carl Froch v George Groves – 2014

Froch had controversially beaten Groves in 2013 by TKO – but the IBF ordered a rematch – and Hearn was more than happy to go again n 2014.

The Wembley fight was more of a chess match than the Manchester meet six month earlier, but Hearn’s confidence in the Cobra proved to be bang on the money, and he floored George in the ninth.

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