Eddie Hearn responds to whether or not he’d sign Imane Khelif after Olympics gender eligibility row

Eddie Hearn has given his verdict on Imane Khelif's victories at the Olympic Games and if he would sign her for Matchroom Boxing.

Khelif has been at the centre of the news around the 2024 Olympic Games following a gender eligibility debate surrounding her competing in Paris.

The Algerian boxer claimed gold in the women's 66kg event despite being banned by the IBA from competing at World Championships after failing unspecified gender tests.

And now, legendary boxing promoter Hearn has revealed whether he would sign Khelif for Matchroom if she made the decision to turn professional.

Speaking to iFL TV, he revealed his thoughts on signing the Olympic champion, saying: "Yes, if the facts were laid out.

"If it was in a position where there is no reason why this individual shouldn't compete as a female.

"One, she is a talented fighter. Two, commercially I think she has up to two Instagram million followers so the answer is yes.

"But I mean there is probably facts that we don't know around the situation and if they are true.

"But if a fighter was deemed female with no physical advantages, but again I haven't seen anything, I have only seen people say 'they have done this test'.

"Do we get to see it? Are we just going to believe that narrative? It's not ever one that I'd go I'm not getting involved in this conversation."

Hearn also gave his opinion on the Khelif's inclusion at the Olympic Games and her controversial first round fight with Angela Carina, which she won after the Italian withdrew after just 46 seconds as she said she had never felt a punch as hard as the Algerian's.

Imane Khelif defeated Angela Carina after 46 seconds in the first round of the women's 66kg boxing event at the Paris Olympic Games. (Image: Getty)

"If there is an unfair physical advantage that the individual is, that is what has to be looked at," Hearn added.

"But not by a rival organisation, or someone with an agenda. But if you are born a female and lived your whole life as a female it's different.

He also questioned Carina's decision to pull out of the bout given her supposed history with Khelif, saying: "It wasn't even really a huge shot, and this person has sparred her before.

"But we need more information about it and a conversation about it."

Hearn has a history of signing Olympians, with Anthony Joshua, who went pro after London 2012, and Katie Taylor, who became Matchroom's first pro woman boxer after Rio 2016, the most notable examples.