Eddie Hearn rips Conor Benn's Zuffa Boxing deal as ‘ongoing issue'
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn responded sharply to Conor Benn’s five-fight extension with Zuffa Boxing, telling Bad Left Hook the deal is an “ongoing issue” and that Benn’s judgment is in question.
“Yeah, some people aren’t as smart as they think,” Hearn said, per Bad Left Hook. “The lack of honesty all around has been beaming throughout, so 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.”
Hearn says Benn relationship is ‘irreparably damaged’
Dana White announced the deal on ESPN this week, keeping Benn under contract through 2028 after the welterweight’s disappointing outing against Regis Prograis. Benn told ESPN he still plans to chase his WBC mandatory, adding “whatever fight the public want, they can get.” White, for his part, griped that boxing is “a going out of business sale” where promoters “grab up as much money as they can and then run away and hide for two years.”
When pressed on whether his relationship with Benn is salvageable, Hearn was blunt. “Yes. Without doubt,” he said. “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. I’m learning more as I go along now, things are coming back to me, but I shall say no more.”
Hearn declined to elaborate on what business remains between the two camps, but hinted at disclosures coming soon. Benn next fights under the Zuffa banner with four more bouts to follow before his current contract expires.
Photo by Nereid Ndreu on Unsplash
Original reporting:
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