In a surprising turn of events, renowned boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has expressed his interest in signing Algerian boxer Imane Khelif, who recently won gold at the Paris Olympic Games despite facing controversy over her gender.
Khelif’s victory was marred by a debate surrounding her eligibility to compete in the women’s category, with some questioning whether she had an unfair physical advantage. However, Hearn has stated that he would have no problem signing her to a deal, provided that her status is unequivocally clarified.
“Yes, if the facts were laid out and it was in a position where there is no reason why this individual shouldn’t compete as a female,” Hearn told IFL TV. “Yes, I would (sign her up), commercially. One, she is a talented fighter. Two, commercially I think she has up to two million Instagram followers, up from 30,000, so the answer is yes.”
Hearn’s comments come amidst the ongoing debate surrounding Khelif’s eligibility. While the International Olympic Committee has firmly backed her, the controversy has taken a toll on the young athlete. Khelif has admitted that the uproar from “big politicians around the world, athletes around the world, and even artists and stars, Elon Musk, [and] Trump” has deeply affected her.
“It affected me a lot, hurt me a lot. I can’t describe to you the amount of fear I had,” Khelif said in an interview with El Birad. “The scenario was very scary. Thank god, all the people of Algeria and the Arab world knew Imane Khelif with her femininity, her courage, her will…”
Despite the challenges she has faced, Khelif’s talent and rising popularity have clearly caught the attention of industry leaders like Eddie Hearn. The boxing promoter’s willingness to sign her, provided her status is clarified, could open up new opportunities for the young athlete.
