Promoter Bob Arum blasted Eddie Hearn for making an “issue” of Artur Beterbiev’s atypical test results for his title defense against Callum Smith this Saturday night, saying that he should be “ashamed of himself.”
Arum says Beterbiev’s atypical test result for later proven to be a result of hormones created by his own body. Beterbiev passed his other tests from December 3rd, 21st, and January 3rd without a positive.
Defending Beterbiev and Taking a Jab at Hearn
Top Rank CEO Arum doesn’t like how Hearn, the promoter for Smith (29-1, 21 KOs), made a big production about IBF, WBC & WBO light heavyweight champion Beterbiev’s test results.
Some believe that Hearn was trying to discredit Beterbiev ahead of the fight so that impressionable fans will give Smith a free pass if he gets beaten on Saturday night.
Beterbiev will defend his three 175-lb titles this Saturday, January 13th, at the Centre Videotron in Quebec, Canada. The event begins at 10:00 p.m. ET on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and ESPN+.
“A lot of people have fallen short with Canelo. Canelo is a good fighter, but again, I’m confident of Artur. He’s fought some great fighters for us, like Gvozdyk, Marcus Browne, and Yarde. So, I think he’ll do quite well,” said Top Rank promoter Bob Arum to Boxing News, talking about Artur Beterbiev, who will defend his IBF, WBC & WBO light heavyweight titles against Callum Smith on Saturday night.
“You have to rely on the people doing the testing, and they said there’s nothing to this. Atypical means there’s a trace, something that can be created by your own body. Subsequent tests showed there was no prohibitive substance in his body,” Arum said about Beterbiev.
Hearn Barred from Press Conference
“It was only Eddie Hearn, who should be ashamed of himself, who made an issue of this. It’s finished. Do you know what atypical means? They’re not sure,” said Arum.
What’s surprising is the big deal that Hearn made about this because he’s creating bad publicity for his fighter, Callum’s important contest. If anything, Hearn should be focusing on the positive rather than talking about Beterbiev’s tests.
Hearn should be worried about all the inactivity of his fighter, Callum. With just two fights in three years, both against weak opposition, he’s not ready for a talent like Beterbiev.
Instead of Hearn putting Smith in record-padding fights after his loss to 5’8″ Canelo Alvarez in 2020, he should have matched him against top contenders like Joshua Buatsi, Craig Richards, and Anthony Yarde.
“There’s a small amount, and they’re not sure if it’s a supplement or if it comes from your own body produces it, and subsequent tests showed that it was from a human body because he [Beterbiev] had no traces of anything bad,” said Arum.
Beterbiev didn’t test dirty. It was an atypical test, so it’s unclear why Hearn went overboard talking about it, like Artur had been caught red-handed.
“VADA, that’s why we hire them. They’re the experts, and if they say there’s nothing there, there’s nothing there. I’m not a doctor. You’re not a doctor. They’re doctors. Talk to Margaret Goodman about it,” said Arum.
“No, no, it’s for the fighters,” said Arum when told that Eddie Hearn wasn’t happy that he wasn’t allowed to be on the stage during the final press conference last Thursday for the Beterbiev vs. Smith fight. “Am I going to be up there? No.
“Eddie Hearn being up there or not being up there doesn’t attract one viewer or sell one ticket. He’s got to forget about the fact that it’s all about him. It isn’t. It isn’t about me. It’s about the fighters,” said Arum.
