Eddie Hearn has spoken for the primary time because the stunning information that Conor Benn has signed with Zuffa Boxing and Dana White.
It was introduced on Friday night that Benn had joined forces with the brand new promotional outfit, having spent all 10 years of his profession so far with Hearn and Matchroom Boxing, ever since his debut again in 2016.
There have been numerous twists and turns throughout Benn’s relationship with Matchroom, notably the saga following his failed medication check in late 2022, to his victory over Chris Eubank Jr of their rematch in November.
It appeared like Benn and Hearn would work collectively on an enormous struggle following that win over Eubank, with the likes of Shakur Stevenson and Ryan Garcia talked about as doable opponents, however ‘The Destroyer’ will now as a substitute crew up with Zuffa and White.
Hearn has now shared his response to IFL TV, admitting that he’s ‘devastated’ about what has occurred.
“I’ve identified about this for just a few days now. I obtained an electronic mail from Conor Benn’s lawyer to make me conscious of it. I’m not going to sit down right here and cling Conor Benn out to dry, I’ll be sincere with you, me personally, fairly devasted.
“I’ve had just a few days to digest what would possibly occur. Perhaps this interview is totally different to what it will have been a few days in the past, it’s not typically you get shocked, I blame myself, as a result of I forgot it was boxing.
“I simply felt that the loyalty that we’ve proven would by no means ever put us on this place. I felt I by no means actually wanted to push Conor Benn to signal a brand new contract beforehand and I in all probability might have performed. I blame myself, I made a mistake. I misjudged the character.”
Hearn then revealed that he reached out to Benn to debate the state of affairs, however that the British fighter was unwilling to talk.
“I’m not going to hold him out to dry, he’ll say it was an enormous provide. Once I obtained the e-mail from his lawyer, I textual content him and mentioned ‘I believe we should always have a name. After the whole lot I’ve performed for you I believe I deserve a name.’ He mentioned no.
“I can’t imagine it, I don’t know what to say apart from I felt the whole lot that we gave him, the loyalty that we gave him, the assist we gave him can be sufficient to speak it via or get near a quantity however there wasn’t the curiosity. Very stunning, very painful, however one other second in life you reside and study from.”
Benn’s subsequent struggle is about to be introduced sooner or later, however it’s clear that the connection with Hearn won’t ever be the identical once more.
