Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn has revealed the exact words he’ll say to Conor Benn when he next crosses paths with him, after the fighter was accused of betraying the promoter by signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.
Benn and Hearn had a close relationship and worked together for a decade before the fighter shockingly penned a reported £11 million one-fight deal with White’s Zuffa Boxing in February.
The Matchroom chief explained how he was “devastated”, describing the move as a “dagger to the heart”, while also claiming that he only found out through Benn’s lawyer. The 46-year-old then said he asked Benn for a phone call, but the 29-year-old refused.
This came after Matchroom and Hearn stood by Benn after he failed two drug tests in 2022.
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Benn served a two-year provisional suspension, which was lifted in 2024. Benn denied any wrongdoing.
After Benn’s lucrative deal and partnership with Zuffa was announced, UFC president White took aim at Hearn, describing him as a “p****” who “works for his dad”.
Since then, White and Hearn have gone back and forth with insults in several interviews.
On 11 April, Benn will make his Zuffa debut when he takes on two-time super-lightweight world champion Regis Prograis on the undercard of Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Hearn will be ringside as he promotes Justis Huni, who faces Frazer Clarke on the undercard.
So, if Hearn and Benn do cross paths, what will happen?
Hearn explained exactly what he’s planning to say during a recent interview with Gunman Boxing.
“I am actually [still annoyed about it],” he explained.
“I have calmed down a lot, but when I first got the news, I was upset. Normally with me, after a little bit, I just go, ‘you know what, it is what it is’, but it is actually aggravating me more and more, to the point where I am not upset any more — I am actually quite angry.
“When I sit back and actually think about it, I have to be careful with what I say, but I actually think, ‘you dog’ — that is what I think. Whereas before, I was a bit upset, I was a bit emotional.
“I will probably be at his fight, because we have Justis Huni fighting [on the card]. Maybe I will go with AJ to watch. I actually thought that if I see him [Benn], I will have to let him know — not in a confrontational way — but I will have to tell him because I have got to get it off my chest.
“I will probably say, ‘you are a dog, mate’, probably that.”
Hearn recently announced that he had signed UFC heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall to his new talent agency, which he claims will “nurture athletes’ careers by managing their brand and building their reputations”.
The Matchroom boss has also slammed MMA fighters’ pay, branding Aspinall’s UFC contract a “f***ing disgrace”.
Topics: Eddie Hearn, Conor Benn, Boxing, Dana White, Boxing News
Luke Davies