What was supposed to be a thrilling day at the football for Barry Hearn turned into something far more serious.
While watching his beloved Leyton Orient during their play-off semi-final clash against Stockport County last month, the legendary sports promoter suffered a heart attack—his third one, in fact.
His son, Eddie Hearn, who is well-known in the boxing world, opened up about the incident this week.
Barry, now 77, is no stranger to health scares, but that didn’t make this moment any less alarming for the family.
Warning Signs at the Game
According to Eddie, Barry began feeling discomfort just minutes into the first leg of the play-off game.
Despite insisting he’d “see out the game,” it quickly became apparent that something wasn’t right.
He was taken to hospital and diagnosed with another heart attack—prompting doctors to insert a third stent into one of his arteries.
A stent, for context, is a tiny tube placed inside arteries to help keep them open, commonly used after heart attacks to restore blood flow.
Back in the Ring—Literally—Within Days
Amazingly, Barry didn’t let the health scare slow him down.
Just five days later, he showed up ringside at the Johnny Fisher vs. Dave Allen boxing match.
“He’s fine now,” Eddie told Boxing Social. “It was scary, but that’s my dad.
Monday he gets a stent, Tuesday he’s home.
I told him not to come to the fight, but he looked me straight in the eye and said, ‘I’m not f***ing missing that fight!’”
That determination seems to be classic Barry—driven, stubborn, and always game for a big night.
Still Hitting Sixes at 77
Not only did Barry make it to the boxing match, but within days, he was back on the cricket pitch too.
Eddie shared that his dad suited up for Essex Over-70s and went on to score 60 runs just days after the heart attack.
“He’s had three stents now, three heart attacks, and he still acts like he’s brand new,” Eddie said, clearly impressed—and maybe a little exhausted—by his dad’s energy.
A Life Lived to the Fullest
Eddie spoke about how unpredictable life can be, especially with someone like Barry.
“When he goes, it could be next week or 10 years from now,” he said.
“But what I do know is he’s lived life to the absolute max—and that’s a pretty special thing.”
Barry has always lived large—whether it’s snooker, darts, boxing, or football, he’s made an impact across them all.
His love for Leyton Orient runs deep, having owned the club between 1995 and 2014.
From High Hopes to Heartbreak
Unfortunately, Barry didn’t get the fairy-tale ending he hoped for with Orient.
The team drew 2-2 in the first leg against Stockport and made it to the final after a 1-1 draw and a penalty shootout.
But in the final, they were edged out 1-0 by Charlton Athletic—meaning another season in League One.
Barry’s connection to the club’s 2014 heartbreak, when they lost to Rotherham in the play-off final, still lingers.
He once joked, “I’ve been paying for therapy ever since that day against Rotherham! I get nightmares about it.”
This year’s final was, in his words, “an opportunity to cleanse myself, take away my therapist bills, and go back to normal sleep patterns.”
Still Going Strong
Heart attack or not, it’s clear Barry Hearn isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
He continues to show up—whether it’s at football matches, boxing fights, or cricket grounds—living each day with his signature blend of passion, humor, and tenacity.