Conor Benn has been slammed by American promoter Lou DiBella following confirmation of his new contract with Zuffa Boxing.
On April 11, Benn made his return to the boxing ring on the undercard of Tyson Fury's comeback card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London.
The 29-year-old defeated two-time world champion Regis Prograis by unanimous decision in what was his first fight since making the controversial move to Dana White's Zuffa Boxing in February.
Following the win, it was confirmed that the English boxing star had signed a new multi-fight, multi-year deal with Zuffa, officially closing the door on his previous chapter with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing.
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But it's clear that the move hasn't impressed everyone, as boxing promoter DiBella appeared on The Ariel Helwani Show to offer his thoughts on Benn's deal, and he didn't hold back.
"He's a big name. Was I surprised? I don't think he means maybe what they think he does," DiBella claimed.
"I personally think he's sort of a cheating, somewhat mediocre (fighter)."
When asked if he believed Benn was a fraud, he added: "I sort of do think he is. I think he's a pedestrian prize fighter with a famous lineage, and a cheater, and frankly, got bigger by cheating. I don't really like that very much.
"The bad guy is always good to have under contract. Okay. You know what I'm saying?
"He's an anti-hero. I don't think he wants to be an anti-hero, but I think he is. I think he has a following because he's Nigel Benn's kid, and he has a following in the UK where people look past his indiscretions and mediocrity. I think both of them are astounding.
"I think his mediocrity is astounding, and I think his indiscretions have been too.
"But a lot of people can look past that. But people like me, they want to see him get his ass kicked."
Who will Conor Benn fight next?
Although it is yet to be confirmed, it is widely expected that Benn will next fight in August at a major event in Las Vegas, Nevada.
His opponent is believed to be WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia.
“It’s gonna be in August. We’re gonna have it in Vegas," Garcia said on a livestream when asked about his next fight.
"His name is Conor Benn, he’s from the UK. Yeah, we’re gonna eat that up. Conor’s about to get blasted, guys.”
And despite his disliking towards Benn, DiBella admitted that he would be tuning in to a potential matchup between the pair.
He added: "I'll buy Ryan Garcia and him. I'll watch it, because I'm hoping Ryan's going to knock him the hell out.
"I have a lot of love for Ryan. I think when Ryan's head is together, and he's giving everything to boxing, and he has clarity, and he's not messing around with stuff, I think that he's a very talented kid. And I think he's more talented than Conor Benn."
Like Benn, Garcia has previosuly been banned for taking performance enhancing drugs after he had tested positive for Ostarine both the day before and on the day of his win over Devin Haney in April 2024.
Garcia was fined $1.1 million and suspended for a year in the wake of the tests, returning on May 2, 2025, losing to Rolando Romero by unanimous decision.
Topics: Conor Benn, Boxing, Ryan Garcia, Boxing News
Ben McCrum