Eddie Hearn has expressed deep regret and disappointment after Conor Benn left Matchroom Boxing to join rival promoter Dana White at Zuffa Boxing. The Matchroom chairman told iFL TV on Friday that he felt he had misjudged Benn's character, despite loaning him 'hundreds of thousands of pounds' and supporting him through a three-year drug-test saga.
Hearn revealed that after receiving an email from Benn's lawyer about the move, he asked for a call, saying: 'For everything I’ve done for you, I think I deserve a call.' Benn reportedly refused, leading Hearn to say: 'I can’t believe it.' The announcement was made via Zuffa Boxing's official X account, which initially raised doubts about its legitimacy.
Benn, who had been with Matchroom since turning professional in 2016, was finally permitted to box on home soil again in 2025, fighting Chris Eubank Jr twice and earning millions. He avenged an April loss to Eubank Jr three months ago. However, Hearn said he 'lost a lot of my soul' during the two-year period of defending Benn.
The split comes just days after White launched a scathing attack on Hearn, who responded in an interview with The Independent. Matchroom had also recently announced a five-year extension of its streaming deal with DAZN. Boxing insider Dan Rafael warned: 'If you think s*** happened today just wait. Ain’t seen nothing yet.'
Matchroom CEO Frank Smith said he was 'not personally shocked' by Benn's behaviour, adding: 'I always kind of knew what he was, in terms of his character.' The move has been described as a generation-defining betrayal in boxing.
