Hearn reveals brilliant encounters with England stars on holiday

The boxing promoter bumped into Three Lions stars Raheem Sterling and Jordan Pickford on their travels in the days after England's heartbreaking defeat to Italy in the final.

Despite a long campaign and a month of the highest sporting pressure imaginable, Hearn revealed both footballers behaved like legends off the pitch during some rare down time.

"I was in Ibiza and it just fascinated me," Hearn told talkSPORT. "It's something that the public should know and should see more of.

"These guys - despite their success, their fame and their wealth - are just down to earth people who love the sport.

"Raheem Sterling, I saw him play football on the beach with half a dozen kids for 20 to 30 minutes. It was just amazing to watch.

"To get people into sports, you need heroes. Those kids that played football with Sterling that day in Ibiza will never ever forget it and it will inspire them.

"It was another example of the things we should be championing about these guys."

Although perhaps we shouldn't champion Pickford's win-at-all-costs mentality during a game of beach cricket with kids.

Staying in the same hotel as the England goalkeeper during a trip to the Caribbean, Hearn recalled Pickford was also generous with his time, but maybe took things a tad too seriously.

"Two days after the final, Jordan Pickford bowls up to the hotel," Hearn continued.

"My kids have run up to me screaming, 'Dad, dad! Jordan Pickford's in the hotel!'

"I said, 'Listen - the guy has just come off the most stressful two weeks, please let him enjoy his time with his family'.

"He walked past and they started shouting his name and singing all these songs they learned on TikTok.

Dream Team 2021/22 - SIGN UP NOW

£100,000 in prize money up for grabs

£50million budget to build your best XI

Play in Mini Leagues against your mates, colleagues, etc

Click here to play for FREE

Dream Team app available through Apple Store and Google Play Store

"He's a real competitor. We played a game of golf and I could see how hard he was trying.

"On the last day, we were playing a bit of beach cricket, some of these kids were coming up to bowl and I knew a few from family friends.

"One was 11, pretty decent, on the verge of the Essex team, and Jordan was just tonking him everywhere - and trying so hard!

"Jordan, just let him hit the stumps!"