Eddie Hearn has revealed that he turned down the chance to sign Daniel Dubois.
Dubois defends his IBF title against long-time Matchroom promoted fighter Anthony Joshua.
The Brits collide in an intriguing heavyweight showdown at Wembley Stadium as part of Riyadh Season.
Dubois was a promising amateur heavyweight but decided to turn professional at just 18 years of age.
When making the decision to move into the pro game, Dubois had an early offer from Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions but Hearn was given the chance to snap up the hard-hitting youngster.
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Hearn told talkSPORT.com: “I never really had my eye on him, but I had Ambrose Mendy come onto me and say, ‘There’s this kid at GB.’
“I spoke to the people at GB and they said he’s a really good young heavyweight.
“They phoned me up and said, ‘This is the deal that’s on offer from Queensberry, will you match it?’
“I said no because I’d hardly ever heard of him and it was a lot of money.
“That was when I first found out really and discussed Dubois at length.
“When he started out he looked really good and, I don’t kick myself, but I was like, ‘Oh, maybe he was worth the money.’
“Then obviously he got beat by Joe Joyce and it was like, ‘Wow, all that investment [lost].’ But the bounce back has been really impressive.
“I think it just shows you that when you jump in the deep end, if you get beat it’s not the end of the world.
“Look at the defeats that he’s had and the way he’s bounced back, and now he’s in the form of his career.
“And still, what is he? 26? He’s really probably not even in his prime as a heavyweight yet.”
