Conor Benn joins Zuffa Boxing, sparking feud between Dana White and Eddie Hearn
Conor Benn recently left Matchroom Boxing to join Zuffa Boxing on a reported eight-figure deal for one fight, writes Sports News Blitz’s Samuel Faris-Clark.
Eddie Hearn responded to the news, sharing his hurt when saying: "I got an email from Conor's lawyer and that was the first dagger in the heart.
"I blame myself a little bit in the sense that I didn't push him to sign a new contract.
"I literally died on a hill for him."
UFC and Zuffa boxing
Benn’s split from Matchroom comes after the two biggest fights of his career - both against Chris Eubank Jr. and both at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Hearn has also pointed to the difference between the pay in the UFC and Zuffa boxing, with both organizations having Dana White as the face.
He said: “If you’re a UFC fighter you’re looking at this Zuffa going what the f*ck, I’m being absolutely ripped off here.
“I’m generating more revenue than these guys and I’m getting a 10th of the money.”
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Dana White criticism
Hearn added to the criticism of White, pointing out how he threw Heavyweight champion Tom Aspinall under the bus after his no-contest fight against Ciryl Gane.
"Look at what they did to Tom Aspinall,” he said. “Tom Aspinall literally had his eye gouged out in a fight and Dana White basically called him a cry baby and cast him aside.
“Humiliated him in front of everybody, while the guy is having operations to save his eyesight."
White’s response to Hearn
White bit back at Hearn’s comments with a vulgar outburst, claiming that Hearn could not match the money Zuffa put up.
He said: “I think you saw this week that I am really beating up babies.
“Is there a bigger p*ssy than Eddie Hearn? This guy’s supposed to be your friend and you’re f**king crying?
“He made more money, he’s going to make more money and he had the right to match it.
“He couldn’t match it.”
Benn plays mediator
Benn responded to the situation, claiming he still wants a relationship with Matchroom, saying: “I’m doing this for my family - it’s an offer you’d be mentally ill to turn down, so for me, I’m blessed to be in the position I’m in.
“But I wanna maintain my relationship with Matchroom, especially Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith.”
Eubank Jr. chimes in
Eubank Jr. added fuel to the fire with a series of tweets at Eddie Hearn which read: “🤣🤣🤣 Edddieeee how you feeling buddy? @EddieHearn…
“So Eddie Hearns #1 fighter has now left him.
“Eddie stuck by Conor Benn through thick & thin, getting him off of drug charges & giving him money to live when he had nothing.”
What the future holds
Speculation is rife for Benn’s next fight, with a possible opponent being Ryan Garcia who just won the WBC Welterweight belt against Mario Barrios on February 21.
Benn called out Garcia after his fight, tweeting at the champ: “Congratulations champ - See you later this year. Make sure you keep my belt warm @RyanGarcia.”
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