The boxing promoter Mr Barry Hearn has denied he sought to have the former world champion boxer Mr Steve Collins stripped of his title. Mr Hearn also rejected suggestions he was an "out-andout liar" who was "utterly incapable" of telling the truth. The allegation was made yesterday by Mr Colm Allen SC, for Mr Collins, on the 11th day of the action taken by Mr Hearn and his company Matchroom Boxing Ltd against Mr Collins for alleged breach of contract.
Mr Collins, of Pine House, Navan Road, Dublin, has denied the claim.
In court yesterday Mr Allen read out a letter written by Mr Hearn to the chairman of the World Boxing Organisation on June 19th, 1995.
Mr Hearn wrote: "Time is now slipping away and I must give my television company confirmation that we will be staging a Chris Eubank fight on 29th July. We will suffer huge financial losses if we do not go ahead with this show and frankly, in view of the deception of other parties in their conditional purse offer, it is grossly unfair if Chris Eubank does not have the opportunity to fight for an interim title now . . ."
The letter also stated: "Steve Collins's injury to his finger is laughable and I trust you will give us the opportunity now to keep this title active in line with past practice and I look forward to receiving your letter to avoid the financial losses to which I have referred."
Mr Allen put it to Mr Hearn that, at a time when he was purporting to be Mr Collins's manager, he was writing to the WBO seeking to have Mr Collins stripped of his world super middle weight title. Mr Hearn denied the suggestion.
Mr Allen said that at a time when Mr Hearn was declaring Mr Collins's injury was "laughable", medical evidence was furnished to the WBO to verify the injury. Mr Hearn said he was not aware of this. He later accepted it was the wrong word to use.
Mr Allen put it to him that what he was effectively doing in the letter was "ratting" on Mr Collins, and alleging that he was feigning an injury.
Denying the suggestion, Mr Hearn said it was not in his interests to do so.
Mr Allen also put to him that he was an out-and-out liar, utterly incapable of telling the truth and prepared to go to any length to justify the "grotesque nonsense" the court had heard over the previous 11 days of the hearing. Mr Hearn said such a charge was "complete nonsense".
Mr Hearn said the letter did not affect Mr Collins, who was scheduled to box in September. His concern was to protect the interests of Mr Eubank.
Mr Allen said there would be evidence that the phrase "keeping the title active", which was used in the letter, could only mean taking it away from Mr Collins. Mr Hearn said that was not true. Mr Allen said Mr Collins would say he was aware, prior to June 6th, 1995, of attempts by Mr Hearn to displace him as WBO super middleweight champion. Mr Hearn said that was "nonsense".
Counsel said Mr Collins would also say he was increasingly aware, contrary to what was being represented to him, that he was a very small cog in the machine and was not expected to beat Mr Eubank in March 1995.
Mr Collins was of the view that he was regarded as suitable "cannon fodder" to fuel the then sagging agreement between BSkyB, Mr Hearn and Mr Eubank, Mr Allen said. Mr Hearn said it was "very strange" to describe Mr Collins as cannon fodder.
Mr Allen said Mr Collins would say he had invited both Mr Hearn and a trainer, Mr Freddie King, to attend civic receptions following Mr Collins's victory over Mr Eubank in March 1995. Mr Hearn said he had no recollection of such an invitation. He may not have been in the country at the time.
The hearing continues today.