Eddie Hearn reveals Conor Benn's response when asked about joining Dana White

Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn has revealed exactly what Conor Benn told him when he asked the boxer to call him after finding out that he’d signed with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

On Friday (February 20), it emerged that British fighter Benn had brought his 10-year association with Matchroom Boxing to an end after signing a reported one-fight deal with UFC boss White’s Zuffa Boxing.

Twenty-nine-year-old Benn, who boasts a record of 24-1 in the paid ranks, took to Instagram and posted a statement thanking Hearn and Matchroom for “everything” they had done for him.

Zuffa Boxing is a promotional outfit backed by UFC boss White and funded in part by Saudi Arabia.

Benn’s deal, according to Sports Illustrated journalist Chris Mannix, is worth an “eight-figure” sum.

White also reacted to signing Benn and described the boxer as “an absolute beast and superstar”.

Conor Benn has signed with Zuffa Boxing (Credit:Getty)

However, Hearn was not so kind when discussing Benn and revealed that he was “pretty devastated”, while saying that he had made a “mistake” trusting the boxer.

Matchroom and Hearn had previously supported Benn while he was suspended after testing positive twice for the banned substance clomifene, which led to a two-year battle with authorities before the ban was eventually lifted in the winter of 2024.

Speaking to IFL TV on Friday, Hearn explained how he learned of the deal after reading an email from Benn’s lawyer.

"I just felt that the loyalty we've shown would never, ever put us in this position," Hearn explained.

"I just felt that I never really needed to push Conor Benn to sign a new contract previously — and I probably could've got him to sign a new contract previously.

"I just felt... everything that we gave him, the loyalty that we gave him, the support we gave him would be enough to talk it through and get close to a number. But there wasn't really the interest.

"Very surprising. Very painful. But just another moment in life that you live and learn from."

Hearn also explained how he’d asked Benn if the pair could speak on the phone, to which he replied: “No.”

“He texted me just after the announcement, and I replied,” Hearn added.

"We had a few back-and-forths."

Benn has been heavily linked with a fight for the WBC welterweight world title and has his sights set on facing the winner of Ryan Garcia vs Mario Barrios.