EDDIE HEARN feared “sad” Mike Tyson would chin him during a terrifying first meeting with the boxing legend at a Vegas club.
The boxing promoter says the former world heavyweight champ – now making a comeback aged 54 – put the “fear of Christ” into him.
Matchroom chief Hearn also revealed how his embarrassing boast “my dad’s Barry Hearn” backfired badly.
Iron Mike will fight fellow boxing legend, 51-year-old Roy Jones Jr, on September 12 in California.
But Hearn admits he was out of his comfort zone in his own scary debut encounter with the youngest man ever to become ring king of the world in the showpiece division.
He told British heavyweight Tony Bellew on his TALKTHETALK YouTube programme: “I met him in a club once – in Vegas.
“We were up in this VIP bit and he was up on his own – really sad. He had a lot of people around but you could tell he was actually on his own.
“I sort of went over to him and I’m like, ‘hey, mate! How are you doing?’
“At the time I don’t even think I was promoting boxing. I was like, ‘yeah, my dad’s Barry Hearn. And he’s thinking 1) Who the f*** are you? and 2) Who’s Barry Hearn?
“So I’m like, yeah, yeah… and he’s looking at me and he put the fear of Christ in me.
“I’m looking at him and thinking, I don’t know whether this geezer is going to give me a hug or chin me now.”
Now, though, Hearn is such a linchpin in the boxing business that he was approached over Tyson’s return.
He told BBTV earlier this month: “They reached out to me.
“I would probably like to see it, but I kinda feel like, ‘Is it a bit irresponsible to let a 53-year-old legend back in the ring?’
“He looks pretty dangerous. It’s the fascination of could he actually go in at 53 and do some damage in the division?
“Maybe, maybe not. But should we be encouraging that from someone who is an all-time-great?”
