Barry Hearn has warned Britain is “losing a generation” of young people, as he hailed sport as a lifeline for those drifting out of work and opportunity.
The sporting veteran told Nigel Farage that boxing, darts and snooker give young people discipline, purpose and a route to success, keeping them off the streets and teaching respect, resilience and hard work.
Speaking on Nigel's Christmas special, Mr Hearn said: "You don't want them on the street. They’re troubled kids, generally.
"They go boxing and they find their way out because you can’t take liberties in a ring. And you’d better be good, because it doesn’t matter how tough you are.
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"No one goes in a ring with a knife. They go in there to defend themselves and to look to change their life through that sport.
"And there are so many stories of people that probably would have been locked up and had the key thrown away had they not come across boxing."
Speaking about his career, he said: "I just wish my mum and dad were alive.
"They would be gobsmacked at where it’s all gone, and why, and how it’s gone, and how we’ve done it. We’re trying not to change. We’re trying to tell the truth. We’re trying to work hard.
Barry Hearn said that we are 'losing a generation'
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"I mean, I’m 77, and I still put in a proper shift every day. My wife is 76, and she puts in a proper shift every day too.
"And I think that’s what it’s basically about. Essex people are the best customers because they don’t mind working.
"They love to earn and they love to spend and that’s what we all want.
"I am the happiest person in this world. You will never find anyone happier.
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Nigel Farage spoke to the sporting legend on his Christmas special
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"As for Christmas plans, I’m going to go away over New Year’s Eve for a couple of weeks of fishing.
"I can’t fight anymore because I’m too old, but fishing takes all the aggression out of my body and makes me appreciate the world we live in.
"And as you said, we all know we’re in a mess. That’s nothing new. But let’s reflect on the good things."
Barry Hearn OBE is a renowned English sports promoter and founder of Matchroom Sport, famous for transforming niche sports like darts and snooker into major TV events.
Speaking about how he became an accountant before pursuing his passion, he said: "I think I was bullied by my mother. My mother was a working-class snob.
"My dad was a bus driver. My mum was a lady and she was absolutely pivotal in my career. She forced me to become a chartered accountant.
"She told me when I was 12, ‘You’re going to be a chartered accountant.’ And I said, ‘So what do they do?’ She said, ‘I haven’t got a Scooby.’
"But she said the man whose house she was cleaning told her that you never see a poor one, and that line stuck in my head.
"Growing up, kids are happy, but we look around and we want things, don’t we? We want the opportunity to get things and that’s key.
"Through that, I was lucky with my background to get invited and to be able to get into that profession.
"And being super smart, obviously I cut all the corners and here we are. It was a slog. It was all about working extra hard and there’s nothing secret about that."
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