Conor Benn leaves Matchroom to join Dana White's Zuffa Boxing

Conor Benn has left Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing to sign with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing, a move the 29-year-old says will deliver the "legacy fights" and biggest stages he wants. Benn, who has won 24 of his 25 professional bouts, wrote on social media that he is "filled with excitement and hunger for what's ahead with zuffa boxing" while thanking his former promoters.

Zuffa Boxing’s ambitions and backing

Zuffa Boxing is backing a push to reshape professional boxing, with its founder supported by Saudi Arabian money and staging its first event in January. The promoter has declared an aim to make its own world title one of the premier belts in the sport and to challenge the authority of the four traditional sanctioning bodies. That positioning underpins the appeal to fighters like Benn who have signalled a desire for high-profile, legacy-defining matchups.

Benn’s record, status and goals

Benn has a 24-1 professional record. He defeated long-time rival Chris Eubank Jr in a rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November after losing their first meeting in April. Following that victory he moved down in weight to pursue a long-held ambition of winning a world title. Benn has said he wants "legacy fights" and has expressed readiness to face leading names; he also indicated interest in fighting the winner of the Mario Barrios–Ryan Garcia matchup.

He has faced a protracted disciplinary episode in his past: Benn twice tested positive for the banned substance Clomifene in 2022, which led to a two-year dispute with authorities and a suspension that was lifted in November 2024. Separately, Benn has been confirmed as the mandatory challenger for the WBC welterweight title, which is currently held by Mario Barrios; that belt will be defended against Ryan Garcia on February 21 in Las Vegas. If Barrios retains the title, Benn's mandatory status sets up a clear route toward a world-title shot.

Eddie Hearn’s reaction

Eddie Hearn said he "misjudged the character" of Conor Benn after the boxer left Matchroom. Hearn described the split as painful and said he blamed himself for not securing a new contract earlier. He also said he was surprised Benn did not take a call to discuss the move, adding that the decision left him "pretty devastated. " Hearn nonetheless stopped short of burning bridges, saying he would not hang Benn out to dry and that he had hoped the old partnership could still have a role in Benn's future plans.

• Key takeaways: Benn has signed with Zuffa Boxing and seeks "legacy fights".
• He is 24-1, a mandatory challenger for the WBC belt, and linked to the winner of Barrios vs Garcia on Feb. 21 (Las Vegas).
• Eddie Hearn says he "misjudged the character" after Benn's departure from Matchroom.