‘His attendance would be a different matter’ - Eddie Hearn on Conor McGregor sponsorship
SPONSORSHIP: Conor McGregor with Katie Taylor after the decision last time out. Pic: ©INPHO/Gary Carr
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has said at no point this week did he consider whether Conor McGregor’s company should continue as a sponsor for Katie Taylor’s blockbuster bout on Saturday night.
McGregor’s company’s is billed as one of the sponsors for the event. The Irish MMA star featured prominently in the buildup to the first homecoming contest and was ringside in the 3Arena for Taylor’s defeat to Chantelle Cameron.
This week McGregor was criticised for comments posted on social media during the riots in Dublin with Tánaiste Micheál Martin labelling them “absolutely disgraceful.”
Speaking to Irish media after the weigh-in at The Helix on Friday, Hearn said the sponsorship links were never reconsidered in the aftermath of Thursday’s shocking scenes.
“No. 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.
“He has 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.”
The company has been involved in several events this week including erecting a statue of Katie Taylor and hosting a fight week party in the city centre on Friday night. Hearn went on to address concerns about the brand’s involvement on Saturday.
“Look, this brand have supported boxing, supported Irish boxing, given people opportunities for most of this year and, again, people’s individual comments are people’s individual comments and we just hope we can give everyone a great night.”
When asked whether the association would be reconsidered in the future, Matchroom’s Head of Communications interrupted and said the question had already been asked.
Hearn followed up: “The answer is, as Matty said, they have been a big supporter of boxing and 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.”
There are eight fights on the undercard this weekend with action set to get underway from 5pm. Hearn explained that the recent disorder has had no impact on their organisation yet.
“We have already got a huge security presence, as we did last time and if that has to change, it will, but at the moment there has been no additional conversations and everybody is just ready to move forward."
