Tony Bellew has thanked Everton FC for making his dream of fighting at Goodison Park a reality.
The Liverpool-born boxer is set to face Iluna Makabu for the vacant WBC heavyweight belt at the home of his beloved Blues.
Tickets for the May 29 fight are already selling fast, with Bellew and fight promoter at Goodison today promoting the highly-anticipated Bank Holiday encounter featuring a number of other home-grown boxers, including Stephen Smith and the returning David Price.
Previewing the fight, Hearn thanked Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson for his support in getting the event over the line.
He said: “I can’t believe we are here. This is going to be a great day and night for the city.
“Makabu is a very tough fight for Tony Bellew. We haven’t had a WBC Boxing champion since Carl Froch in the UK.
“Special thanks to the Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson. He believes in Tony and he believes in this city. ”
An ecstatic Bellew added: “It’s all on me now. I phoned Eddie Hearn every single day for 6 months pestering him!
“I said listen we can do it on a Sunday. Liverpool comes alive on a bank holiday – everyone in the city knows that.
“On May 29 I’m going to become WBC Boxing world champion. I don’t give a sh*t who he is – I’m winning it.
“Thanks to the chairman Bill Kenwright, he’s believed in me from day one.
“The dream is about to become reality.”