Eddie Hearn rips Daniella Hemsley's boob flash as others defend it
Editor’s note: This article was originally published at MMAJunkie.com.
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While many fans around the world may have hooted and hollered at the unexpected sight of breasts during a recent influencer-turned-boxer’s unorthodox celebration, promoter Eddie Hearn was not among them.
At a Kingpyn Boxing event Saturday in Dublin, Daniella Hemsley won a unanimous decision against Aleksandra Daniel – and exposed her bare breasts to the camera. The moment instantly went viral.
Hearn acknowledged his opinion may come off as preachy, but when recently asked about it, he disavowed the moment and suggested traditional professional boxing separate itself from the world of celebrity and influencer boxing matches.
“My opinion is, I hate it,” Hearn told Boxing Social. “I hate it. We’ve worked so hard for women in boxing to be respected for their ability, for their merits, for their hard work. One thing we must understand is that ain’t boxing. That needs to be pushed. All that stuff – Misfits, Kingpyn, all that stuff. It needs to be booted so far away from professional boxing, and we really need to disassociate ourselves with what it is.
“It does great numbers. It’s entertainment. It’s all of those things, and what we saw there (with Hemsley). For me, what I’m trying to do and what we’ve been doing for years and years, the sacrifices people have made to be respected – again, it’s not boxing. But at the same time, I think it’s more of a reflection of society than a reflection of good or bad for boxing. I don’t like it.”
#Kingpyn Official Decision:@DanniHemsley def. Ms. Danielka via unanimous decision (48-47,48-47,49-46)#KingpynSF | LIVE NOW | Live on DAZN. Click the link in our bio to sign up | Partnered with @pixbet pic.twitter.com/fNkcoTvqXm
— KINGPYN BOXING (@kingpynboxing) July 15, 2023
As the celebration made the viral rounds on social media Saturday, some fans echoed the same sentiments Hearn put forth. However, there were also many who supported Hemsley’s celebration, including IBF bantamweight champ Ebanie Bridges.
“I think tonight all y’all that complain / about me & say I ‘show my tits’ saw what ‘showing your tits’ actually looks like… somthing [sic] I’d never do,” Bridges wrote on Twitter. “There is weighing in in Underwear like everyone else… but having big boobs…. And then theres actually showing ur tits on TV. I get why she’s done it… she’s an ‘influencer’ it’s all about views & she knows it would break the internet, get views & everyone would be talking about it. So she has succeeded in that… it’s influencer boxing their goal is to break the internet.”
I think tonight all y’all that complain / about me & say I “show my tits” saw what “showing your tits” actually looks like… somthing I’d never do. There is weighing in in Underwear like everyone else… but having big boobs…. And then theres actually showing ur tits on TV.
I…— Blonde Bomber (@EbanieBridges) July 15, 2023
The flash which has been viewed millions of times on multiple social media accounts, has undisputedly attracted a lot of attention. Hearn acknowledged that, but said that speaks to a larger problem with society as a whole.
“The problem today is you want kids to have great role models,” Hearn said. “I have two daughters. When my daughters spend time or have met Katie Taylor, it’s the greatest thing that I could ever see – them looking at a female who has achieved so much and shown them that anything’s possible, even when everything’s stacked against you. Anything’s possible. I think what we’re lacking in society at the moment is role models.
“Unfortunately, we now live in a world where role models, or influencers, are not necessarily doing things that the older generation, which I class myself as, or parents would want your kids to see or think is acceptable. (It’s) nothing to do with women, nothing to do with men. You want your kids to behave in a certain way. That’s not a way you’d want your kids to behave, in my opinion. This is only my opinion. But we live in a f—— mental world. Unfortunately, clout is just being chased all over the place. To each their own.”
The breast flashing Saturday was not the only in recent combat sports history. In September 2022, BKFC fighter Tai Emery won her promotional debut by TKO and immediately jumped on the ropes to pull up her shirt and expose her breasts.
Emery, who openly supported Hemsley on social media since Saturday, told MMA Junkie the decision to expose herself wasn’t just about boosting her career, it was about empowerment, as well.
“For me, it’s like, true girl power, like, ‘What the f*ck are yous going to do about it?’ In that moment, I owned everything,” Emery told MMA Junkie days after. “I owned time itself in my own world. I think that was the most perfect thing to be like, ‘You can’t do anything about it, you know?’ That’s my moment. Nothing could change.”