Conor Benn signs with Zuffa Boxing as Eddie Hearn says he is 'devastated'
conor benn has left Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing to sign with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing, a move that Hearn described as "devastated" after he learned of the decision by email from the boxer's lawyer.
Conor Benn makes the switch after a decade with Matchroom
The 29-year-old left the promoter he joined in 2016 after a 10-year association. Benn headlined stadium shows for Matchroom and most recently beat long-time rival Chris Eubank Jr in a rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November, having lost their first meeting in April.
Hearn says he discovered the move by email and felt 'let down'
Eddie Hearn said he received an email from Benn's lawyer and then messaged the fighter to propose a phone call; Benn declined. "Me, personally, I'm pretty devastated, " Hearn said, adding that he believed he had misjudged Benn's character and called the split "very surprising. Very painful. " Hearn said he had backed Benn through a two-year suspension after a positive test in 2022 and that Benn was later cleared to fight in the UK in 2024.
What Benn said and what comes next
In a social-media statement, Benn thanked Hearn and Matchroom "for everything they have done for me over the past decade" and said he was "filled with excitement and hunger for what's ahead with Zuffa Boxing. " He has said he wants "legacy fights" on the biggest stages and is ready to fight the winner of Mario Barrios against Ryan Garcia. Barrios is scheduled to defend the WBC welterweight title against Garcia in Las Vegas on February 21, a fight Benn has identified as the next path to a world title opportunity.
Hearn has not ruled out working with Benn again, but said he felt betrayed after lending financial support and backing Benn through his suspension. He also said he exchanged texts with Benn after the announcement and "had some very choice words" with the fighter's manager, Keith Connolly.
The move completes a sudden public split: the fighter who beat Eubank Jr in November has now signed with Dana White’s promotional operation and framed the shift as a step toward the high-profile, legacy fights he seeks.
Next confirmed events include Barrios defending the WBC welterweight title against Ryan Garcia in Las Vegas on February 21 and Benn's stated aim to fight the winner of that bout as he pursues a world-title path.
