Eddie Hearn warns against underestimating Jono Carroll
Eddie Hearn knows all too well that Jono Carroll [16(3)-0-1] welcomes opportunities like no other fighter and warns against underestimating the Irishman in tomorrowâs IBF super featherweight world title fight.
Carroll is as wide as 13/2 with some bookies to dethrone champion Tevin Farmer [28(6)-4(2)-1] at the Liacouras Center but the Dubliner has beaten the odds before, a number of times.
The Matchroom boss watched on as a perceived no hoper changed his career and indeed life in the space of a month back in 2014.
âKing Kongâ was brought in as an opponent for talented former amateur Declan Geraghty for Matchroomâs last visit to Dublin over four years ago but, after a brilliant build-up, managed to upset the apple cart and won the Irish Fight of the Year to secure a place on Prizefighter.
The then Paschal Collins-trained talker managed to take some big scalps en route to victory in the lucrative and career enhancing tournament and started a journey that eventually lead to a world title fight in Philadelphia on St Patrickâs weekend.
There are suggestions Hearn, who let Carroll slip through his fingers in 2016 before re-signing the now-26-year-old, is hoping for a Farmer win this weekend, as he believes the Philly fighter can help him make a mark in America.
However, even if that is the case, the English promoter knows you write off the vibrant and energetic Carroll at your peril.
âIt wasnât so long ago that I put Jono Carroll on a card in Dublin against a young fighter called Declan Gerraghty in a four round fight, and he was an âopponentâ,â Hearn recalled before addressing Carroll.
âQuite honestly, you were supposed to lose that night, and you didnât.â
âHe won in one of the best four rounders weâve ever seen. He then won Prizefighter, he continued to learn his trade, and has since teamed up with MTK Global, went to Marbella, moved everything to dedicate his life to the sport.â
âI know thereâs a lot of people â and Iâve even talked about the Gervonta Davis fight [for Farmer] after this but, when I saw Jono Carroll training, you cannot underestimate the fire in this young manâs belly.â
âThe opportunity for Jono Carroll to become world champion here on Friday night, do you have any idea what that means to Jono Carroll and to a young fighter?â
While Farmerâs âstoryâ as an away corner opponent with a chequered record who rose to world title glory is understandably the prominent theme here, Hearn was keen to draw attention to Carroll.
âItâs not just [Farmerâs] story that is incredible, itâs [Carrollâs] story that is incredible as well.â
âWe know that thereâs been a war of words between the two of them and thatâs great but, ultimately, thereâs much more than words on the line on Friday night. Thereâs world titles, thereâs futures, thereâs legacies, thereâs everything in the sport of boxing.â
âThis young man, with a lot of support in that arena from the Irish fans on Friday night, is looking to rip that world championship from Tevin Farmer.â