Eddie Hearn on Conor Benn’s Zuffa Boxing deal: ‘It’s an ongoing issue’
Eddie Hearn says Conor Benn’s five-fight extension with Zuffa Boxing is unfinished business, calling the welterweight’s decision-making into question and stating their working relationship has fractured beyond repair.
Benn signed a two-and-a-half-year deal through 2028 announced Thursday on ESPN, per Bad Left Hook, following his $15 million single-fight agreement with the UFC-backed promotional venture. Dana White confirmed the extension, which keeps Benn under contract for five more bouts. The 28-year-old told ESPN he still intends to chase his WBC mandatory title shot.
Hearn questions Benn’s judgement on Zuffa extension
Hearn, whose Matchroom promoted Benn for years, took a shot at the fighter’s new commitment. “Yeah, some people aren’t as smart as they think,” Hearn said, according to Bad Left Hook. “I can’t really comment on it too much at the moment, it’s an ongoing issue. The lack of honesty all around has been beaming throughout, so, you know, it’s just funny how people want to dress it up and the lengths that they’ll go to to dress it up. But we shall get to the bottom of it.”
Asked whether their relationship could be salvaged, Hearn shut that door. “Yes. Without doubt,” he said. “Listen, I wish him all the best but when you think someone was someone and they show you they’re really not, it makes you question everything they’ve told you throughout the whole time. And I’m learning more as I go along now, things are coming back to me [in my mind], but I shall say no more.”
Benn fought Regis Prograis in an underwhelming outing earlier this year under his initial Zuffa deal. White told ESPN his biggest lesson in boxing has been that “this sport is even more broken than I thought it was,” while claiming Zuffa staged more fights in its first year than all other promoters combined. Benn’s next bout and the timing of any WBC title eliminator have not been announced.
Photo by Nereid Ndreu on Unsplash
Original reporting:
- badlefthook.com — Eddie Hearn reacts to Conor Benn’s new deal with Zuffa Boxing | Bad Left Hook
- badlefthook.com — Conor Benn signs five-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing | Bad Left Hook