It’s a sign of respect – Eddie Hearn defends playing Saudi anthem at Wembley

Eddie Hearn has said he would play the Saudi anthem at every fight if the country bankrolling boxing asked him to.

There was criticism over the decision to play the anthem ahead of Saturday’s heavyweight fight between Daniel Dubois and Anthony Joshua at Wembley, amid further accusations the Middle East nation was attempting to ‘sportswash’ its reputation as a repressive regime.

The fight was part of ‘Riyadh Season’, a series backed by the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority under the chairmanship of Turki Alalshikh, an advisor in the country’s royal court.

Hearn said that, for the money Turki has pumped into the sport, he was more than entitled to have the anthem played as a “sign of respect”.

“He’s given British boxing – all the fighters, all the fans – the best night, he’s paid for it all,” Hearn told iFL TV.

“I couldn’t have put that event up, (rival promoter) Frank Warren couldn’t have put that event up.

“It’s a sign of respect for the work that’s been put in to create this event – and for 20 seconds, is it a big deal?

“He (Turki) could have done that show in Riyadh and everyone could go, ‘Oh, another big fight in Riyadh’.

“But now he’s actually gone out, spent the money to do it in the UK and give everybody just the best night and all these fighters all these incredible opportunities and we still find a way to say, ‘Yeah, but they played their national anthem’.

“Well, you know what? I’ll play the anthem if they want, for what they’re doing, at every show.”

Hearn insisted there was “no agenda” behind Saudi’s involvement in the sport, adding: “Everything behind it is a passion to create great events. Riyadh Season, like any sponsor, would be looking for the benefits, a brand to be seen globally, to raise the