BARRY HEARN has shown off his two arm tattoos – which his son Eddie hates.
The veteran sports promoter goes topless in a scene shown during a new Netflix series – Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen – which launches today.
Barry Hearn showed off his tattoos
The sports promoter went topless in a new Netflix series
Two months after turning 76, Hearn fulfilled a lifetime ambition by appearing in the .
talkSPORT broadcaster Andy Goldstein was the other British .
The septuagenarian played Polish professional Konrad Juszczyszyn and bet his heir and son – who is chairman of – that he would win at least one rack in the contest.
Hearn, now 77, managed to hit the two-ball onto the nine-ball for a winning combination to get onto the scoreboard.
And though he eventually lost 9-1 in his opening match, he celebrated wildly as he secured a sporting ambition at the Harrah’s Resort in the State of New Jersey.
In the build-up, Hearn received a black pool shirt with the nickname The Guvnor on the back.
As he took off his yellow shirt and put on the sports jersey, Goldstein noticed the inkings of his arms – FAMILY on his right bicep, LIFE on the left.
Goldstein asked: “When did you get the tats?”
Hearn said: “The first one? That’s . Eddie said it’s the worst tattoo he’s ever seen.
“So then, five years later I went back and had the other.
“The only two words that mean anything to me in the world. Family and life.
“And now, of course, Eddie’s dead jealous.
“He won’t admit it, but he would absolutely love a tattoo.”
Goldstein replied: “Surprised he hasn’t got a tat yet.”
One tattoo was a tribute to his family
The other bit of ink says “life”
Hearn – who marked his appearance on the table with a glass of red wine – has promoted sport for the past 45 years but this was the chance to play against the pros.
In preparation, he had practised with six-time world champion Steve Davis, his close pal and former client, who also played pool to a high level.
Hearn defended his appearance in the tournament by saying: “I’m just going to be what I always choose to be in anything – the best that I can be.
“People will take the p*** out of me. That’s okay. They live a very shallow life. Because they’ve never aimed for the stars.
“But if I fall on the top of the trees, I’ll take that. Obviously I’ve got an ego. I don’t like getting beat.
“And here I am getting completely annihilated. As I got on that shot, all I kept thinking was what Steve said to me: ‘Trust yourself. Push the cue through straight. Don’t miss an opportunity to commit.’
“That has made my year. It’s made my life. When that two-ball hit the nine-ball and the nine-ball went in the pocket, someone released something.
“A rack in the US Open. Does it mean anything? No, I still got beat. But I had my moment in the sun.
Barry Hearn is the father of boxing promoter son Eddie
He joked that Eddie thinks his tattoo is the “worst ever”
“Trust yourself, and just do the best you can – that’s probably the words on my tombstone.
“Got to find something next. Get me Everest on the phone…”
Elsewhere in the six-episode series, Hearn is seen fishing at his private lake which has 64 carp – all of which are tagged and named after colleagues, including famous and snooker players.
It was part of his recovery from having surgery last year, which meant he missed the heavyweight title fight at Wembley last September between and .
In a conversation with Eddie, Hearn Snr said: “This is my place. This is my resting place. And I think when I go, my ashes can go here, please.”
replied: “What, in the lake?”
Barry Hearn said: “Put them in the lake.”
Eddie Hearn jokingly said: “What we could do is, you know how you weigh the fish? Tag them?
“Rather than getting cremated, I could just sling you in whole and tag you.
“And then when we drain the lake, we could bring you out and re-weigh you – and see how you’re getting on.”
