Conor Benn leaves Matchroom for Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing as Eddie Hearn says ‘I misjudged the character’

conor benn has split from Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing to sign with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, announcing the move in a social media statement and thanking his former promoters. The change matters now because it reunites a high-profile British fighter, fresh from a major rematch victory, with a newly launched promotional group that has signalled ambitions to reshape elite boxing.

Conor Benn: Development details

Benn, 29, has left the organisation that managed his professional career since he turned pro to sign with Zuffa Boxing, the promotional arm led by UFC president Dana White. on Instagram, Benn said he was “filled with excitement and hunger for what’s ahead with Zuffa Boxing” and paid tribute to Eddie Hearn and the Matchroom team for guiding him from his early career to headlining stadium shows.

The fighter’s record stands at 24 wins and one defeat from 25 professional fights. Benn beat long-time rival Chris Eubank Jr in a rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November, reversing a loss to Eubank earlier in April. Benn said he wants “the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages, ” and that he fears “no man at any weight. ” He also expressed a desire for his former promoter to remain involved in future fights.

Zuffa Boxing, backed by Dana White and Saudi Arabian funding, staged its first event in January. White praised Benn, saying: “Conor Benn is an absolute beast and a superstar. He shows up every time and destroys people, and now some of the best fighters in the world are calling him out. He’s ready for a world title next and I can’t wait to see him compete in Zuffa Boxing. ” White has also outlined an ambition to make Zuffa’s championship the premier world title alongside the Ring Magazine title.

Context and pressure points

The split closes a decade-long partnership that carried Benn from his professional debut to stadium headliners. The relationship endured a major interruption after Benn twice tested positive for the banned substance Clomifene in 2022, triggering a two-year dispute with authorities. That suspension was lifted in November 2024, removing the primary obstacle to his return to consistent competition.

Eddie Hearn reacted sharply to the move, saying in an interview that he had “misjudged the character” of Benn and that he felt personally let down. Hearn described himself as “pretty devastated, ” saying he took responsibility for not securing a renewed contract earlier and lamenting that Benn’s team did not engage in discussion before the decision was formalised.

What makes this notable is that the change of promoter comes at a juncture when Benn is positioned close to world-title contention and when Zuffa Boxing is actively projecting itself as an alternative power in the sport. That alignment—an in-form, headline-capable fighter joining a promoter with stated ambitions to upend existing title structures—creates immediate competitive and commercial pressure across boxing’s promotional landscape.

Immediate impact

The direct effects are clear: Matchroom loses a headline fighter who spent his whole professional career under its banner, and Zuffa secures a boxer with a recent high-profile victory and broad commercial appeal. Benn’s relationship with his former promoter is strained, with Hearn publicly expressing disappointment and saying he believed the loyalty shown to Benn would have guaranteed ongoing cooperation.

For Benn himself, the move formalises a pathway he has described as focused on “legacy fights. ” He has been publicly aligned with the idea of pursuing top-level opponents, and his rematch win moved him back into proximity with world-title opportunities. He has also been confirmed as the mandatory challenger for the WBC welterweight title, and has indicated he is ready to face the winner of the scheduled Mario Barrios–Ryan Garcia defence.

Forward outlook

The next confirmed milestones are straightforward. Benn’s championship trajectory includes his status as mandatory challenger for the WBC belt, while the current WBC champion is due to defend the title in a scheduled fight between Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia on February 21. Those outcomes are likely to determine Benn’s immediate competitive targets under his new promotional agreement.

Zuffa Boxing has already held an inaugural event and signalled broader ambitions for title structures in elite boxing. The timing matters because Benn’s return from suspension and recent high-profile victory coincide with Zuffa’s early expansion, giving both promoter and fighter an immediate platform to pursue the “biggest nights” Benn described. The matter remains under review in the sense that contractual and scheduling details will unfold as Zuffa outlines Benn’s fight plans and as the WBC title picture evolves.

The broader implication is that promoter alignments and fighter loyalties are in flux at a formative moment for a new entrant in boxing’s promotional field. Confirmed calendar dates and mandated title positions will shape whether this move delivers the legacy fights Benn seeks and whether it forces established promoters to reassess matchmaking and contractual strategy.