By Charles Brun: Eddie Hearn revealed moments ago that he’s tested positive for COVID-10 ahead of this Sunday’s light heavyweight contest between Joshua Buatsi and Marko Calic, and he’s been forced to leave the Matchroom Boxing bubble.
Hearn says he’s “gutted” and will go home and “rest” up. He adds that no one from the card tested positive in the testing.
2016 Olympian Buatsi (12-0, 10 KOs) will be defending his World Boxing Association International 175-lb title against unbeaten Calid (111-0, 6 KOs) this Sunday, October 4th at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes. The fight will be shown on Sky Sports.
Hearn to rest up
With Matchroom boss Hearn coming in contract with so many people, it’s not all that shocking that he would become ill with the COViD-19. Hopefully, he gets well soon and can return back to work without being laid up for a long duration. Boxing News 24 is hoping Hearn recovers quickly and can pass further future tests.
Gutted to just find out I tested positive for Covid-19 today and have to leave the bubble immediately. Thankfully all other tests were negative. Heading home to rest – catch up tomorrow 👍
— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) October 1, 2020
Hearn says he’s going to be isolating in his spare bedroom at home for the next ten days, and he’ll be retesting when that’s all over. He says he’s got to follow the protocols and trace where he might have contracted the virus. As of now, Hearn isn’t sure where he might have got the COVID-19.
Thus far, the symptoms have been mild in comparison to other victims of the virus. Hearn says he’s not had a temperature, cough, or loss of taste or smell. He thinks he might be one of the asymptomatic people the entire time he had the virus.
Hearn surprised at testing positive
‘It’s a nightmare,” said Hearn to IFL TV. “Every test came up negative, but mine came up positive. I’m getting ready for 10 very long days. I’ve never done anything like that.
“At the moment, I’m in good health, and hopefully, it’ll stay that way. I’m going to miss the show, the press conference, and everything. That’s what I live for. You look back and think, ‘Where did I get it from?’ I feel alright within myself. I feel like I got a cold.
“And I haven’t had any COVID symptoms, a lot of taste of smell., cough or anything like that. Hopefully, that doesn’t come over in the next few days. It is what it is. You have to follow the protocol and take it on the chin. I have to go away, get better, bounce back, and come back again.
“I’ve had a blocked up nose in the last couple of days. I think we’ve got a temperature. And I do that a few times a day because you have to walk past it so much.
“I suppose you could say that I feel like I just have a cold, really. Every time I’ve had a test, I’ve thought, ‘Imagine if you’d got it.’ Frank Smith called me and said, ‘You’re not going to believe this. You tested positive.’ I said, ‘Are you winding me up?’ He said, ‘No,’ and that was it. I had to clear off,” said Hearn.
It’s not that surprising that Hearn has gotten sick from the virus because he’s out and about, and he’s interacting with a lot of people. The more people you come in contact with, the greater the chances of becoming ill.
Hearn isn’t sure whether he’ll still be vulnerable to getting sick with the OVID 19 after he recovers.
Isolation for ten days
“I’ve got to track and trace where I’ve been in the last few days,” said Hearn. “I don’t know how it works, but I’ll follow all the protocols and do whatever I have to do. I think they’re going to rest in the morning.
“The guy at Frenetics that I spoke to. I don’t know if there are different levels of being on the verge, but I think they’re going to rest in the morning. I’m going to go upstairs to the guest room.
“There’s where I’ll be for the next ten days, the spare room. I don’t want anyone to come near me. Apparently, I have to isolate myself for the next ten days. So I should be good by the end of next weekend or Monday, which is Newcastle fight week.
“So I’ll retest after my isolation period. They used to say that if you get it, you can’t get it again. I’m not sure if that’s true anymore, but hopefully, that’s the case,” said Hearn.
With the different strains out there for the COVID 19 virus, Hearn could be vulnerable to suck again in the future. The vaccine will help once one is on the market, but until then, the only thing Hearn and other people can do is use social distancing, wash hands, don’t touch your face, and wear a mask when in public.
Eddie not sure if he’s asymptomatic
“But as I say, I don’t want to say it’s not much of a virus because some people are symptomatic, and some people, especially people with underlying illnesses, can lose their lives,” Hearn said.
“I’m not sure if I’m asymptomatic, but we’ll see over the next few days. I’m not saying I’m not worried about my health. In Fight Camp and everything we do, our testing is so stringent.
“That is the key. Testing is the key. The more people that get tested, the better. That was the eighth test that I’ve had, and on my eighth test, I tested positive. Now lock yourself away; do what you got to do.
“I’m going to be doing a lot of interviews because I’ll be so bored. This was day one. Tomorrow, it’ll be day two. I’ll be all over Instagram live. I’ve got nothing else to do,” said Hearn.
If Hearn is asymptomatic, he’s going to know soon in the next few days. Many people don’t show symptoms initially, but then it kicks in later, and they become very ill.