LAST UPDATE | 24 Nov 2023
PROMOTER EDDIE HEARN has said Conor McGregor never intended to attend tomorrow night’s fight between Katie Taylor and Chantelle Cameron at the 3Arena in Dublin, and that he has no issue with the event being sponsored by one of the MMA star’s businesses.
The Matchroom boss also said that he does not think the riots in central Dublin on Thursday night will affect the world title fight tomorrow.
McGregor’s company’s Forged Irish Stout is billed as one of the sponsors of the fight.
The MMA fighter has been criticised for posting incendiary remarks on social media during last night’s riots.
Earlier yesterday afternoon, five people, including three young children, were hospitalised in a suspected stabbing near a school in Dublin city centre.
Two of the injured people – a woman (30s) and a young girl (5) – sustained serious injuries, An Gardaí Siochána said.
A man (50s) who is believed to be responsible for the attack is being treated in hospital for serious injuries.
Asked at today’s weigh-in if he had any concerns about doing business with McGregor in light of his online remarks, Hearn said: “No. I mean, I think a brand is a brand.
“I think that Conor was never planning to come to this event. He won’t be there tomorrow night.
“I haven’t read all the opinions. I know they’ve created controversy. Everybody’s got an opinion and I don’t even really have one because I don’t know enough about it.
“So, y’know, he’s been a massive supporter of Katie and of Irish boxing so it’s a difficult topic.
“I think his attendance would be a different matter but [he] has never been planning to come to this one.”
“This brand have supported boxing, supported Irish boxing, given people opportunities for most of this year”, Hearn added of McGregor’s stout business, “and, y’know, again, people’s individual comments are people’s individual comments and we just hope we can give everyone a great night.
“I’m not going to comment on an individual’s thoughts and comments regarding a situation I actually don’t know a lot about either.”
Speaking on Ireland AM prior to the weigh-in, Hearn said that last night’s riots in the city centre would not affect the staging of Cameron-Taylor II but added that Matchroom “will follow developments . . . and we will take instructions.”
He continued: “This is an opportunity for positivity, not just for the sport of boxing, but in this country you’re talking about one of your greatest ever role models, an iconic figure of sport.
“This is a celebration of boxing, this is a celebration of Irish sport as well. As always we follow the situations, we don’t feel it will affect the event tomorrow night and we hope that we can go ahead positively with a great event for Irish sport.”
Presenter Elaine Crowley said that, at the Taylor-Cameron fight in May, McGregor “put himself front and centre,” adding, “I know he was sponsoring the event, but are we going to see that again?”
“I don’t believe so, no,” said Hearn.
