Promoter Eddie Hearn has defended the decision to stage Anthony Joshua’s eagerly-anticipated rematch against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia amid the mass scrutiny surrounding this week’s inaugural LIV Golf series event, insisting boxing cannot be compared to other sports.
There was criticism in abundance when Premier League outfit Newcastle finally confirmed their mega-money Saudi-backed takeover last year, and this week the topic of sportswashing has once again hit the headlines, with a number of elite golfers lured by the new event.
Hearn has already staged an event in Saudi Arabia, being Joshua’s rematch victory over Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019.