Eddie Hearn says he’s never said hello or shook Frank Warren’s hand even after awkward first meeting

Eddie Hearn has told talkSPORT that he has still never shook Frank Warren's hand as the two boxing promoter supremos met for the first time.

Hearn and Warren have had endless bickering battles over the years, particularly recently amid the rivalry between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

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However, prior to last week, the two promoters had never met one another - until a mega-boxing card was announced in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua, represented by Hearn, is facing Otto Wallin while Daniel Dubois, who is Warren's fighter, will box Jarrell Miller on a card that also involves Deontay Wilder fighting Joseph Parker.

The two boxing promoters finally met as Matchroom chief and Queensberry Promotions chief in Saudi Arabia.

But Hearn has told talkSPORT how they have stayed so frosty over the years, even despite being in the same room as one another.

He told Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent on talkSPORT Drive: "I think we were at a dinner once at a big charity event... I have never said hello or shaken this man's hand in 15 years of being a promoter.

"I was actually talking to someone about it today and they're like 'what?' I actually can't believe it, either, it is mad.

"We have done work with Queensberry Promotions, I have got a good relationship with George and have done a few bits with Francis [both of Frank's sons] but never Frank.

"We must have seen a million interviews each on IFL and Parsons or you guys, particularly, where we are back and forth at each other. But we have never met before!

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"I wish you guys had a camera for the first meeting which was orchestrated by George and he was like the parent!

"He was like 'right you two! Clip round the ear, stop it! Both of you, don't mess this up!'.

The conversation then turned to how Warren clashed with talkSPORT pundit Adam Catterall and went on an impassioned rant defending Fury.

Catterall had branded Fury's fight against Derek Chisora like 'warm lager' and Warren was furious with his comments, telling him to 'stop talking b*******'.

Hearn, who admitted to even rooting for Warren, added: "I didn't know what happened last week because I found myself watching a Frank Warren interview going, 'go on Frank!'

"If you want to have those opinions, you should be prepared and equipped enough to have a debate on the spot on it.

"It wasn't a violent interview or anything, it was some guy that was very passionate about comments that were made.

"If you felt that strongly about your own comments, you should have enough substance to debate them on the spot."