During a lively press conference at Manchester Central, Chris Eubank Jr.’s promoter, Ben Shalom, found himself at the center of an unexpected incident involving prominent promoter Eddie Hearn. It seems Hearn, feeling incensed, ended up shoving Shalom after Eubank Jr. egged Hearn’s fighter, Conor Benn, in a rather surprising display.
Hearn’s Shove
Shalom was puzzled by Hearn’s actions, admitting that he had no clue why Hearn targeted him out of everyone present on stage. He speculated that Hearn might have mistakenly thought the egg thrown by Eubank Jr. was something more dangerous and believed that Shalom had been part of a premeditated ploy.
The curious dynamic on stage raised further questions for Shalom, especially about why Hearn chose to shove him specifically. Meanwhile, Eubank Jr. and Benn are gearing up to clash on April 26th at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Hearn is optimistic about the potential for a sell-out event by this Friday.
“Eddie thinks he’s a fighter. What’s he shoving me for?” questioned Shalom during an interview with iFL TV, reflecting on the chaotic scene at Manchester Central. “Unbelievable, but to Eddie’s credit, we were all caught off guard, and he mistakenly thought it was a glass. I can understand that reaction.”
Hearn expressed concern that tensions might escalate further if Benn seeks revenge before the actual fight, potentially jeopardizing the event itself. He emphasized the importance of keeping the fighters apart until they meet in the ring, though the need for promotional face-offs complicates this.
“Not Gangsters”
Reflecting on the event’s chaos, Shalom made it clear that he didn’t endorse the way things unfolded. “I don’t condone it. I’m not happy with it. It was shocking. I do think Eddie thought it was something that it wasn’t and maybe made more of it. But, I agree, we have to keep them apart,” he stated.
“We’re not gangsters. Everyone is on sight,” Shalom remarked, addressing the notion that the Benn family is ready to confront Eubank Jr. next time they cross paths. “How old is Eddie? Confronting me like it was a schoolyard argument.”
Do they need to be separated? Perhaps. Shalom opined, “I don’t think Chris did it to hype the event; it’s been brewing for two years. He shouldn’t have reacted that way. This event is quite significant,” he concluded, underscoring the tension and stakes surrounding the upcoming fight.
