AS THE boss of Matchroom, Barry Hearn has lots of big decisions to make.
Thankfully, he has a massive mansion to give him all the space he needs.
https://www.instagram.com/eddiehearn/Barry Hearn bought the Mascalls mansion in Essex in 1982[/caption]
Hearn stepped back as a director but remains presidentRex
Action ImagesThe Hearn family no longer live there but it remains Matchroom’s HQ[/caption]
TalkSPORTThere is a swimming pool for staff and athletes to enjoy[/caption]
Hearn bought the giant pad, Mascalls, in 1982 for just £200,000 from Ford Motor Company using money made from selling snooker halls.
It was the former home of the car company’s European president – but then became the family home of the Hearns, including dad Barry and son Eddie.
But now these days while nobody lives on site, it is still very much the home of Matchroom as their fully operational business HQ.
The grand white house near Brentwood, Essex is worth millions and it is where the promoters plan and strike mega deals for some of the biggest fights and tournaments in their sports.
But this is no ordinary office block.
For Hearn Sr, 77, has ensured it is the perfect place for their wide variety of athletes and sports stars to use the complex to prepare for their big events – as detailed in their new Netflix show Matchroom: The Greatest Showmen.
That means they can train there, relax there, conduct media days there and even eat there.
Located just outside the M25 with stunning views across the London skyline, one of Mascalls’ famous features is the luxury swimming pool – perfect for a gentle morning swim, post-training recovery or even as fighters work their way back from injury.
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Hearn Jr, 46, told the Daily Mail: “The key to a healthy mind is a healthy body.
“We’ve got a pool and a gym upstairs, where the fighters come in for meetings, can have some sessions with their trainers and do some strength work in the pool.
“This pool has been used by a number of great fighters over the years – Chris Eubank, Jim McDonnell, and Darren Barker.
“It’s great to have this facility here, not only for our staff and our employers and our team, but also for our team of fighters.”
But boxers like Anthony Joshua are not limited to training in the pool, with many of them taking full advantage of the sprawling grounds for runs and the vast lawns for padwork in the hot summer months.
Hearn added: “There’s some great runs in the forest.
“Many fighters have been seen through the years doing many a circuit.
“In the summertime, actually, a lot of them come out here and do their pad work, circuits and strength work.
“It’s a great feel and great to have the fighters here, when they are around.”
There even used to be the Matchroom Gym – ran by Tony Sims – at the bottom of the garden but that has since moved elsewhere.
Barry and Eddie even put on an annual BBQ for their athletes and friends.
But anyone out in the garden must be careful, for there are alpacas around and a helicopter carrying a sporting celebrity could land on the helipad in the backyard at any moment.
And in 2020, the Hearns brought their grand plans for boxing nights far closer to home by staging the Matchroom Fight Camp on the grass.
Matchroom put on Fight Camp during the pandemic to keep live sport goingSportsfile
Mark RobinsonAlexander Povetkin beat Dillian Whyte in the headline fight[/caption]
Mark RobinsonHearn bought the house for £200,000 but is now worth millions[/caption]
The SunHearn Jr transformed his childhood garden in Covid[/caption]
https://www.instagram.com/eddiehearn/The company worked within the lockdown restrictions[/caption]
For four weeks, boxers, teams and media descended on Mascalls for the series of five events – topped by Alexander Povetkin’s knockout win over Dillian Whyte.
And despite wrecking the lawn for a while, Fight Camp provided a chance for boxers and fans to enjoy live sport during the height of the pandemic, thanks to strict and thorough Covid testing.
Back inside, the walls are adorned with artwork, photos, posters and memorabilia from the Hearns’ long involvement in snooker, darts, boxing and more – plus a giant portrait of a topless Barry to his son’s dismay.
Even though Barry officially resigned from his role as company director in 2021 and took a step back from the day-to-day operations, he is still very much involved in the business he founded in 1982 as president.
And Eddie, the chairman, revealed his dad still has the bigger and better office, too.
Joshua is the most iconic boxer in the Matchroom stable with his incredible success from Olympic gold to heavyweight world champion.
But the Hearns will be keeping a close eye on AJ after he hinted he may try and buy Mascalls from them.
Joshua said: “Matchroom is a family-run business. Barry, the Godfather, what he’s achieved coming from a council estate like myself, I take my hat off to him.
“One thing I do want is to buy that house, the Matchroom office from him, that’s one of my goals.
“Eddie is good at what he does and I’m good at what I do.
“I’m like the artwork that goes on the wall and Eddie’s there to sell the art, but if I was a bad boxer, Eddie would not make the time for me.”
NetflixThere is a huge painting of a topless Barry on the wall[/caption]
NetflixMatchroom keep alpacas in the garden[/caption]
Google MapsThere is a helipad in the garden of the impressive property[/caption]
TalkSPORTVarious boxing posters and artwork cover the walls[/caption]
Paul EdwardsAnthony Joshua revealed he wants to buy the property[/caption]
Barry has a bigger office at Mascalls than son EddieRex Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
