‘I Was a Dead Man Walking’: These Simple Changes Helped Eddie Hearn, 46, Turn His Health Around

Eddie Hearn doesn’t sugar-coat where he was heading.

Looking back at old photos, the Matchroom boss admits: ‘When I look at that picture, I actually think that’s a dead man walking.’ Years of constant travel, late nights and regular drinking had taken their toll. ‘Stress, alcohol, lack of training. But it was just going one way…’

The warning signs were stacking up. ‘Your cholesterol’s high, your blood sugar’s high, your fatty liver’s high from alcohol, your stress is through the roof, you’re not sleeping,’ he says. With a family history of heart problems, the direction felt obvious.

The changes that followed were built around consistency. Hearn had spent years under-fuelling, then overcompensating when he ate out. Getting that balance right became a priority, alongside a training routine he could maintain despite a schedule that includes more than 100 flights a year.

In the gym, progress took time. ‘You have to actually stay with this process,’ he says, after initially finding weight training ‘soul destroying’. Gradually, the results came. ‘My arms have doubled in size over the past couple of years… I’m starting to see a decent change to my body.’

Train like Eddie: Hearn’s PT, Kai Peacock, has created a plan exclusively for members of MH SQUAD. Existing members can access the training plan in full via the MH app.

Sign up here

He has also cut out alcohol, tightened his diet and paid closer attention to recovery, even if sleep remains inconsistent. The cumulative effect has been a shift in how he feels day to day – and how he looks.

‘To be in your late forties… in much better shape than you were in your teens or your twenties… looking better than you’ve ever looked before,’ he says.

For Hearn, the focus now is longevity. The approach is simple and repeatable. ‘I don’t want to do every session, but I do every session.’

Read our full interview with Eddie Hearn at this link. You can subscribe to Men's Health by clicking here.

Isaac Williams

Site Editor

Isaac Williams is Site Editor for both Women’s Health UK and Men’s Health UK, guiding and supporting the content teams to create content across all platforms. Isaac’s love of health and fitness began at Loughborough University, where he graduated with a History and English degree in 2014. His first job was at Men’s Running magazine, where he progressed from Staff Writer to Editor. Among his highlights of those four years include completing a 24-hour track race (never again), just about finishing a multi-day ultramarathon in the Azores, and chugging his way around a ‘beer mile’. Isaac ventured into the world of freelance journalism in 2018, interviewing some of the biggest names in sport – like Anthony Joshua and Ben Stokes – and writing features for the likes of The Guardian, Red Bull, ShortList and BBC Countryfile. He was also a regular contributor to an adventure series called ‘The Man Who’: speaking to some of the world’s most extreme explorers from the wilds of Caffè Nero. In late-2019, Isaac became Editor of Men’s Fitness UK. In his five years there, Isaac was responsible for editing the monthly magazine and managing website content, ultimately helping the brand transition to a ‘digital-first’ approach. He joined Hearst UK as Multiplatform Editor in December 2024, where he manages day-to-day digital output, edits content and writes articles on all things health and fitness. When he’s not hammering at his keyboard, Isaac enjoys exercise and trying –  unsuccessfully, so far – to teach his baby son to kick a football. You can follow Isaac on Instagram @isaacw1993.