Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has offered his perspective on Imane Khelif’s achievements at the Olympic Games and whether he would consider signing her following the gender eligibility controversy.
Khelif has been the focus of attention during the 2024 Paris Olympics amid discussions regarding her eligibility to compete. The Algerian boxer won gold in the women’s 66kg event, despite a ban from the International Boxing Association (IBA) preventing her from competing in the World Championships due to unspecified gender tests.
In an interview with iFL TV, Hearn was asked if he would sign Khelif if she decided to turn professional. He responded, “Yes, if the facts were laid out. If it turns out there’s no reason why this individual shouldn’t compete as a female, it would be a yes from me. One, she is a talented fighter. Two, commercially, she has about two million followers on Instagram.”
Hearn expressed caution regarding information surrounding Khelif’s situation, stating, “There are probably facts we don’t know about this situation. If a fighter is deemed female without any physical advantages, then that’s a different story. However, I haven’t seen anything concrete yet; I’ve only seen people referencing tests.”
He also addressed Khelif’s Olympic inclusion and her contentious first round against Angela Carini, who withdrew after just 46 seconds, claiming she had never felt a punch as hard as Khelif’s. Hearn remarked, “If there’s an unfair physical advantage, that’s what needs to be examined. But it shouldn’t be done by a rival organization or someone with an agenda. If someone is born female and has lived their life as such, it’s different.”
Additionally, Hearn questioned Carini’s decision to pull out of the fight, noting, “It wasn’t even a huge shot, and this person has sparred with her before. We need more information and a proper conversation about this matter.”
Hearn has a history of signing Olympians, with notable examples including Anthony Joshua, who turned professional after the London 2012 Olympics, and Katie Taylor, who became Matchroom’s first professional female boxer following the Rio 2016 Games.
Credit: Sport Bible
