Conor Benn has been accused of turning down three world title fights before his departure from promoter Eddie Hearn to join Dana White's Zuffa Boxing, according to Hearn himself. The 29-year-old British fighter stunned the boxing world in February when he announced his split from Matchroom Boxing, signing a £10 million one-fight deal with Zuffa and making his debut on the Tyson Fury undercard last month.
Speaking during a recent media scrum, Hearn alleged that Benn showed little interest in bouts against champions Lewis Crocker, Rolando Romero, and Josh Kelly. Hearn said he proposed a fight with Crocker at The O2 Arena for the world title, but Benn declined, citing concerns over the IBF's rehydration policy. Similarly, a potential clash with Romero for the WBA welterweight title in London was dismissed by Benn as 'not a very big fight', while a proposed match with Josh Kelly at the Stadium of Light was met with a blunt refusal.
Benn has since committed his future to Zuffa by signing a five-fight deal, and is now being lined up for a summer showdown with welterweight champion Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas. The bout would mark Benn's first crack at a world title, but boxing legend Roy Jones Jr has warned that Benn is not yet ready for that level of opposition.
Jones described Benn as 'a work in progress' following his win over Regis Prograis, noting that he struggled against a fighter at the end of his career. He suggested that a fight with Romero would be a more suitable test to gauge whether Benn can elevate his game, cautioning that Garcia would be a step too far at this stage.
