Hearn 'devastated' as Benn joins rival promoter White
Eddie Hearn says he is "devastated" after Conor Benn made the "very painful" decision to leave Matchroom Boxing to join Dana White's Zuffa Boxing promotional company.
The 29-year-old had been with Matchroom since turning professional and beat long-time rival Chris Eubank Jr in a blockbuster rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November, having lost their first bout in April.
Hearn, who learned of Benn's decision via email from the Briton's lawyer, said he made a "mistake" in trusting Benn because he "misjudged his character".
"I'm not going to sit here and hang Conor Benn out to dry but me, personally, I'm pretty devastated," Hearn told iFL TV.
"I've had a few days to digest what might happen. Maybe this interview is different to what it could've been a couple of days ago.
"It's not often I get shocked. And I blame myself because I forgot it was boxing."
Hearn said after reading the email he messaged Benn to say the pair should speak over the phone but Benn refused.
"I just felt that the loyalty we've shown would never, ever put us in this position," continued Hearn.
"I just felt that I never really needed to push Conor Benn to sign a new contract previously – and I probably could've got him to sign a new contract previously.
"I just felt… everything that we gave him, the loyalty that we gave him, the support we gave him would be enough to talk it through and get close to a number. But there wasn't really the interest.
"Very surprising. Very painful. But just another moment in life that you live and learn from."
Hearn was undecided when asked whether he could work with Benn again in the future. "He text me just after the announcement and I replied," said Hearn. "We had a few back and forths."
He also revealed he "had some very choice words" with Benn's manager, Keith Connolly.
In a statement on Instagram, Benn said he was "filled with excitement and hunger for what's ahead with Zuffa Boxing" while paying tribute to his former promoters.
"First and foremost I want to thank Eddie and the entire team at Matchroom for everything they have done for me over the past decade," wrote Benn, the son of former two-weight world champion Nigel.
"From guiding me when I first turned pro, to headlining stadium shows. They were not only with me for those highlight moments but stood shoulder to shoulder with me during the tough times."
Benn and Eubank Jr were originally set to fight in 2022 but the bout was called off when Benn failed a voluntary drugs test – twice testing positive for the banned substance Clomifene.
That sparked a two-year battle with authorities, before Benn's suspension was lifted in November 2024.
'I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights'
Benn has won 24 of his 25 professional bouts, with his only loss coming against Eubank – whose father Chris Sr fought Nigel Benn twice in the early 1990s.
Victory over Eubank Jr in November has left Conor Benn on the verge of challenging for a world title.
Zuffa Boxing, backed by UFC chief White and Saudi Arabian money, staged its first event in January and has vowed to transform professional boxing.
White's ultimate aim is to sideline the four traditional sanctioning bodies – WBO, WBC, IBF and WBA – and make Zuffa's belt the premier world title alongside the Ring Magazine title, an organisation owned by Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh.
"Conor Benn is an absolute beast and a superstar," said White. "He shows up every time and destroys people, and now some of the best fighters in the world are calling him out.
"He's ready for a world title next and I can't wait to see him compete in Zuffa Boxing. He's going to be a huge addition to a growing stable of very talented boxers."
Benn said he hoped Hearn could still be involved in future fights, adding: "I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages. I fear no man at any weight and I'm ready to give the fans the fights they've been calling for."
Analysis: A move that shocks boxing
Absolutely nobody in boxing had this on their bingo card. There were no whispers, rumours or cryptic social media hints.
Usually when a fighter jumps ship, the outgoing promoter gets ahead of it with a statement or some kind of warning shot – not this time.
White has made no secret of his desire to disrupt boxing's power structure, and securing Benn – a fighter with genuine mainstream appeal, albeit still with doubters – is a statement signing.
Hearn had stood firmly behind Benn throughout the doping saga and was actively manoeuvring him towards a world-title shot. Benn is the mandatory challenger for the winner of Mario Barrios v Ryan Garcia, and has made no secret of his ambition to become a world champion.
So what does this mean for those plans? Zuffa recently signed reigning cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia, yet the long-term vision is one belt, a Zuffa title, and no reliance on the traditional sanctioning bodies.
If that is the direction, what does Benn do now? Will he target becoming the first Zuffa welterweight champion?
Over the past week, White dismissed Hearn's credentials and quipped he works for his father Barry – prompting the younger Hearn to fire back that White's boss is Alalshikh.
From a pure PR standpoint, this is a major win for White. This brewing promotional rivalry just got a whole lot louder.
