Eddie Hearn issues mock apology after threatening to ‘knock out’ rival promoter Ben Shalom

Eddie Hearn has doubled down amid his ongoing feud with Ben Shalom.

The two boxing promoters have been clashing all week ahead of Anthony Joshua’s IBF heavyweight world title fight with Daniel Dubois, which takes place at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night.

Hearn promotes the star of the record-breaking show at Wembley StadiumMark Robinson/Matchroom

On Thursday, Hearn and Shalom were filmed having a heated discussion while undercard fighters Joshua Buatsi and Willy Hutchinson faced off at a press conference.

According to Shalom, he made a joke about the Matchroom Boxing chief being on stage for a staredown that didn’t feature anyone from his roster.

The BOXXER head claimed Hearn didn’t take it well and threatened to assault him – although exactly what was said couldn’t be heard in viral footage of the incident.

“He said he was going to knock me out,” Shalom told IFL TV.

“I said, as a joke, ‘I didn’t realise this was your fight’ or something like that.

“It was literally a joke, but he wasn’t too happy.

“I’m not playing that game. I’m not sinking to those levels. I’m not here to fight.

“To be threatened to be knocked out by a guy who is nearly 50 was an interesting one.”

Hearn later admitted that he did threaten to KO Shalom – but the 45-year-old insisted that he was joking too before offering offered insincere apology.

Joshua’s promoter told IFL TV in a separate interview: “He came up to me and he said, ‘Why are you up here for this fight?’ And I said, ‘I’ll knock you out!’

Shalom and Hearn were spotted having a heated argument in publicMark Robinson/Matchroom

They’ve been at each other’s throats all weekMark Robinson/Matchroom

“And I felt really bad and I do have to apologise to him because it was when he started quivering and he went white like Casper the Ghost that I actually felt terrible.

“And as he was just joking to me, it was just a throwaway line. He is just learning, and if he thinks that was serious, I do apologise because I felt bad after and I saw his face.”

Hearn pretended to take a phone call as he mocked Shalom’s reaction to his threat.

He added: “Hello, is that the Guildhall?

“Yeah, you had a press conference last night. Is that lost and found?

“You haven’t found Ben Shalom’s a*******, have you? Floating around Guildhall anywhere. If you find it, can you let me know? Cheers, thanks.

“He did a jokey comment, I had a little joke. Sorry if he took it seriously.

“I actually do feel bad because his lip was quivering and all over the gaff.”