Conor Benn Leaves Matchroom, Joins Zuffa Boxing Amid Hearn-White Feud
British welterweight Conor Benn shocked the boxing world Friday by parting methods with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing after 10 years, signing with UFC boss Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. The transfer comes someday after Hearn’s fiery response to White’s criticisms.
Benn, 29 and undefeated at 23-0 (15 KOs), issued a press launch on X: “At the beginning, I need to thank Eddie and all the workforce at Matchroom for all the pieces they’ve performed for me over the previous decade. From guiding me after I first turned professional, to headlining stadium reveals. They weren’t solely with me for these spotlight moments however stood shoulder to shoulder with me in the course of the robust instances. It’s been a journey past something we might have imagined, and for his or her perception, help, and steering, I’ll all the time be really grateful, however Zuffa Boxing introduced me with a chance I merely couldn’t refuse. I’d love Eddie to proceed to be a part of my workforce and for our partnership to evolve on this new chapter. I’m stuffed with pleasure and starvation for what’s forward with Zuffa Boxing. I would like the legacy fights, the largest nights, the largest levels. I worry no man at any weight, and I’m prepared to present the followers the fights they’ve been calling for. I’m in my prime, and collectively we’ve daring, bold plans.”
The son of legend Nigel Benn rose beneath Matchroom, regardless of a 2022 doping scandal—cleared in 2024 over contaminated eggs, with Hearn’s help.
On Thursday, Hearn hit again at White’s Sunday rant, the place White dismissed Hearn for working “for his dad” and referred to as rivals simple targets. 1 Hearn instructed media: “I used to be simply fairly stunned by the character of what he mentioned, which was in the end: ‘Eddie Hearn works for his dad.’ That’s form of what I’ve had my complete profession, once they get actually flustered they usually’re a bit fed, to be sincere with you. I wasn’t anticipating him to be so fed and flustered so early. When he says I work for my dad, I suppose so, however his dad for a few years has been the Fertitta brothers, and now he’s acquired a brand new daddy referred to as Turki Alalshikh.” 1 He additionally referred to as Zuffa reveals “absolute full dogsh*t.” 0
Followers reacted strongly to Benn’s change, with many calling it disloyal after Hearn’s backing throughout controversy—replies included “largest Judas transfer” and “absolute scumbag rat.”
Hypothesis factors to large fights like vs. Chris Eubank Jr., Terence Crawford, or Jaron Ennis on Zuffa’s platform. This underscores Zuffa’s push into boxing. Hearn hasn’t addressed Benn’s exit but.
