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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Harry Davies

Eddie Hearn could be forced to move fight night due to Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte

Eddie Hearn has admitted he could be forced to move a fight night card featuring Conor Benn because of Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte.

Matchroom planned to have Conor Benn compete at the O2 Arena in London on April 23, but have admitted if Fury vs Whyte takes place on that day they would move the event.

Benn was linked to fight former light welterweight world titleholder Maurice Hooker at the event, with Chris van Heerden and Adrien Broner also being potential opponents.

But with a ruling stating that Fury vs Whyte must take place before the end of April, Hearn concedes he would move the card if the two events clash.

"We would [move it]. Conor Benn was due to go April 23rd, we've put other plans in the place probably the week before in case [Fury and Whyte] do go April 23rd," he told iFL TV.

"We haven't had a contract yet but we haven't been told of any date yet for Fury vs Whyte, which obviously we will do in time but not yet.

"It has to happen before the end of April. The winner has seven or ten days to pay the deposit and then they have 14 days to confirm the date and the venue."

Warren's Queensberry's Promotions, who will promote the fight alongside Top Rank, have already paid the £4.1 million deposit to the WBC.

Hearn was outbid by £7m for rights of the bout and he admitted he wouldn't on his "ego" when bidding by sticking to his maximum budget.

The Principality Stadium in Cardiff is a possible venue for to stage the bout, but with contracts yet to be signed a venue remains in question.

And the Matchroom boss said February 21 is the date contracts need to be signed for the fight.

Can Dillian Whyte hand Tyson Fury his first professional loss? Let us know in the comments section below

"I think February 21 is when the contracts have to be signed, it's been a week now so obviously we'll get those soon and we can crack on," he added.

Whyte is yet to make any comment on the fight since it was announced, with Fury repeatedly goading him in videos posted on social media.

Hearn thinks Whyte is refusing to talk about the fight until contracts have been signed.

"I guess he's thinking until I get a contract, until everyone signs, until I get the date and the money's paid. I don't believe it, but we'll see,' he continued.

"He wants to see a reaction, he wants to get himself fired up in camp. Maybe Dillian Whyte won't say a thing until the fight, maybe we'll fight maybe we won't, you'll find out on the night.

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