Barry Hearn has criticized Conor Benn for his departure from Matchroom, describing it as lacking in class as he moved to Zuffa Boxing without engaging with Eddie Hearn. Benn, 29, confirmed the split and will now be managed by the Saudi-backed promoter overseen by UFC president Dana White.
Having been supported by Matchroom for a decade, including during a previous drug test failure, Benn chose to part ways with the promoters. Despite Eddie Hearn’s praise for Benn following his victory over Chris Eubank Jnr, Benn opted for the opportunity presented by Zuffa, ignoring Eddie Hearn’s attempts to discuss their future collaboration.
Expressing disappointment in Benn’s actions, Barry Hearn emphasized the importance of loyalty to the team that helped build Benn’s career. He criticized the decision to break ties with a longstanding team in favor of a lucrative offer from Dana White’s camp, calling it a disrespectful and ungrateful move.
Benn’s move to Zuffa makes him the second high-profile signing after cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. Despite Eddie Hearn’s anticipation of future opportunities post-Eubank Jnr fight, Benn’s departure means those plans will no longer involve him.
Barry Hearn revealed that Conor Benn suggested involving lawyers rather than meeting in person to discuss the situation, which he found appalling after the long history they shared. Benn, the mandatory challenger for the WBC welterweight title, justified his decision by stating that rejecting the lucrative offer would have been irrational.
While Hearn Sr. acknowledged the possibility of Benn pursuing a different path, he emphasized the importance of maintaining standards and criticized the lack of reciprocation in this situation.
