TKO president and CEO Mark Shapiro has confirmed that Conor Benn’s contract with Zuffa Boxing is a one-fight deal. Speaking on a quarterly financial call, Shapiro clarified that the welterweight was signed for just one bout, scheduled for 2026, and that the reported purse of approximately $15 million will be covered by Saudi partner Sela, not TKO.
Benn’s move from longtime promoter Eddie Hearn to Zuffa, led by Dana White and Turki Alalshikh, has caused a stir in the boxing world. Hearn had supported Benn through a drug-test controversy and lent him “hundreds of thousands of pounds,” according to the Matchroom promoter. Benn has expressed a desire to work with Hearn again in the future.
Shapiro likened the Benn signing to other super-fights promoted under the TKO banner, such as Canelo Alvarez versus Terence Crawford. He noted that Zuffa Boxing plans to stage two to four such events annually, with some promoted or sold for media rights by TKO.
Separately, British promoter Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions has reportedly launched a $1 billion (£740 million) claim against TKO and Sela, alleging breach of contract. Queensberry claims TKO and Sela went behind its back to form a partnership, causing loss of expected income. Legal letters have been sent, and the case may reach the High Court. Sela has rejected the claims as “unfounded.”
