Eddie Hearn: Conor Benn offered $250,000 to keep quiet

Eddie Hearn says Conor Benn offered him $250,000 to stay silent after the welterweight left Matchroom for Zuffa Boxing earlier this year.

The Matchroom promoter told Pro Boxing Fans that Benn's legal team sent him correspondence proposing the payment in exchange for refraining from negative public statements. "Conor Benn offered me money to keep my mouth shut," Hearn said, per BoxingScene. "It said it in the email from his lawyer, 'we'll give you this amount of money', and I'll tell you, 'we'll give you $250,000 to not say anything negative about us'. Fuck off."

Benn's Zuffa move followed failed drug tests controversy

Hearn promoted Benn from his 2016 debut through last year's rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr, a two-fight series where Benn lost the first bout on points before winning the rematch. The relationship soured after Benn signed with Zuffa in February, initially on a one-fight deal that saw him outpoint Regis Prograis before extending the contract in April.

Keith Connelly, Benn's manager, reportedly claimed Hearn turned down a role as special advisor to the fighter. Hearn dismissed that version of events when speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, calling it "a right load of shit" and insisting the only offer came through Benn's lawyer as a payment for silence.

The split comes after Hearn backed Benn through two failed drug tests in 2022 that led to the cancellation of the original Eubank Jr fight and arranged bouts in America while Benn fought his case. Benn is now the WBC mandatory challenger at welterweight under Zuffa's banner.

Source: boxingscene.com