Boxing legend Barry Hearn suffers heart attack
Veteran promoter, Barry Hearn, suffered a heart attack needing an operation but his son Eddie revealed his dad is “in good spirits”.
The 71-year-old snooker and boxing chief was hospitalised on Sunday, but returns to his home today after an operation.
Eddie, who now runs Matchroom Boxing, tweeted: “As if we can’t thank the NHS enough, I want to particularly thank the staff at Broomfield & Basildon.
“My dad @BarryHearn was taken to hospital on Sunday after a minor heart attack and was operated on yesterday.
“He is up and well and returns home today in good spirits! Thank you.”
The popular promoter was wished a speedy recovery by several sporting stars.
Darts player Keith Deller said: “Great that Barry is coming home and in good spirits. Wish him well Eddie.”
Gamal Yafai tweeted: “Wishing you a speedy recovery.”
His brother Kal said: “Speedy recovery @BarryHearn.”
Barry’s Matchroom Sport have promoted boxing, snooker, golf and pool for over 40 years.
The ex-Leyton Orient chief is currently the chairman of the Professional Darts Corporation but has passed the boxing reigns over to his son, who promotes heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua.
Barry – who suffered a heart attack in 2002 – has another child, Katie, with his wife Susan.
Before Barry fell ill, he told SunSport the coronavirus pandemic is becoming the biggest challenge he has ever faced.
He said: “It’s worst thing I’ve come across in 40 years of promoting sport around the world.”
Yet Barry vowed to look “outside of the box” by upping plans to stream more snooker and darts events behind closed doors.
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Despite working around the uncertain circumstances, avid fisher Barry kept up his hobby as he tweeted this month that he caught his first carp of the year.