‘Nowhere else in the world has this’ – Eddie Hearn reveals little-known rule that can catch boxers out
EDDIE HEARN has revealed the little-known rule that is catching international boxers out when they fight in Saudi Arabia.
The British Boxing Board of Control oversee the bouts staged in Saudi – including this Saturday’s mega-event.
And Hearn revealed how the BBBoC enforce a rule that boxers must check their weight on the Wednesday of fight week.
That is two days before the official weigh in.
So Hearn admitted uninformed boxers flying in internationally are sometimes blindsided by this rule.
He told iFL TV: “One of the issues – and I’ll be completely honest – it’s a bit of a pain in the a***e.
“The British Boxing Board of Control operate the events out here. They have a very strict rule of a check weight on the Wednesday of fight week.
“Now, I’m not saying that rule is a bad rule but, nowhere else in the world to my knowledge of any major commission has that rule.
“So every international fighter that comes over – I mean they should be told weeks in advance, some only find out when they actually get there, that’s not our job if it’s not our fighter.
“But, basically and this is where I think it’s a bad policy is fighters are really focussed on making that weight for the check weight.
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“And then they’re rehydrating for the check weight and then they’re going forward to another weigh in two days later.
“So I don’t know, I can’t give you the doctors’ opinion on whether it’s a good or a bad rule but it’s a rule and that’s it.”
Official BBBoC rules read: “Three days prior to the contest both Boxers will have to submit to a further check weigh-in before a designated official of the Board or Area Council at a time and place to be determined by the Board or Area Council.
“A Boxer weighing more than 3 per cent above the relevant Championship limit three days prior to the date of the contest will require the sanction of the B.B.B. of C. before being permitted to box for that Championship on the contracted contest date.”
Artur Beterbiev, 40, rematches Dmitry Bivol, 34, in the main-event on Saturday after his close points win in October.
And Daniel Dubois, 27, defends his IBF title against Joseph Parker, 33, as part of the massive card.
American Floyd Schofield, 22, was due to challenge WBC champion Shakur Stevenson, 27, but he was pulled out by the BBBoC.
And his dad and trainer, Floyd Sr, wildly claimed his son was “poisoned” before sharing a picture of him in a hospital bed.
Promoters, Golden Boy, said: “Yesterday, Floyd “Kid Austin” Schofield Jr. fell ill and was transported to the hospital as a precautionary measure.
“In the interest of Schofield’s health and safety, the British Boxing Board of Control made the decision to cancel his scheduled bout against Shakur Stevenson.
“Schofield has since been discharged from the hospital and is awaiting the results of his medical evaluation.
“We extend our gratitude to His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, SELA, and the medical professionals who provided Schofield with care.”