Conor Benn's Zuffa switch rewrites his title timeline and leaves Eddie Hearn 'devastated'

What changes now is immediate and practical: conor benn has abandoned a decade-long promoter relationship and signed with Zuffa Boxing, a move that alters his path to big-name opponents and accelerates a push for "legacy fights. " That decision has left his former promoter emotionally shaken and created a short-term scheduling knot around the WBC title picture, where Benn is already positioned as a mandatory challenger.

Conor Benn's next phase: legacy ambitions collide with promoter fallout

The most visible consequence is a reorientation of priorities. Benn has framed his move as a bid for the biggest stages and the legacy opponents he seeks; that shifts leverage away from his prior long-term promoter and toward a new team intent on marquee matchups. For his ex-promoter, the split is a personal blow — described as devastating — and has introduced a tense back-and-forth with members of Benn's circle. Here's the part that matters: the promotional shift changes negotiation dynamics for any upcoming title fight Benn may press for.

What's easy to miss is how quickly the relationship moved from long-term partnership to rupture: Benn joined his former promoters when he turned professional and, after recent high-profile results, opted to sign elsewhere.

Event details and immediate scheduling signals

Key facts from the change are straightforward and verifiable from recent statements. Benn signed with Zuffa Boxing and said he wants legacy fights and the biggest stages. He had been with his previous promoter since turning professional. The split followed his rematch win over Chris Eubank Jr in November, a fight he won after losing their first meeting earlier in the year. His former promoter learned of the decision by email from Benn's lawyer, felt betrayed and declined direct phone contact when he reached out; Benn later texted after the public announcement. Benn publicly thanked his former team and said he was excited about Zuffa.

• Benn's record and position: He has won 24 of his 25 professional bouts and is confirmed as the mandatory challenger for the WBC welterweight title.
• Title context: The WBC belt is held by the current champion, who will first defend the title against another challenger on February 21.
• Weight and timing: After the November rematch win, Benn moved down in weight to pursue a world title.

The real question now is how Zuffa Boxing will use Benn's mandatory status: pursue the champion immediately, or prioritize high-profile non-title "legacy" opponents that could reshape his marketability before a mandated title shot. Benn has publicly stated he fears no man at any weight and is ready to give fans the fights they've been calling for; that language signals intention but not a fixed schedule.

Short timeline and forward signal

• 2016 — Benn joined his former promoter when he turned professional.
• Earlier this year — Benn lost the first meeting with a long-time rival, then won the rematch in November.
• February 21 — the current WBC champion is scheduled to defend the belt in a listed defense.
• Most recent — Benn has signed with Zuffa Boxing and declared a desire for legacy fights and the biggest stages.

That sequence suggests a window in which promotional strategy will determine whether Benn pursues the champion directly or builds toward a bigger spectacle first; confirmation of the next turn will come from announced fight dates or an alignment on mandatory enforcement.

Managerial friction is also a near-term consequence: the former promoter said he had "very choice words" with Benn's manager after the split. Negotiation posture, personnel relationships and public messaging will all be tested as plans firm up.

The bigger signal here is that a fighter at Benn's stage can rapidly reshape his career by switching promotional homes, forcing quick recalibration from rivals, title holders and the boxing calendar.

Key takeaways: Benn's move is not just a personnel change — it recalibrates his immediate path to a world title, hands his new promoter a mandate to create or chase headline fights, and leaves his former promoter publicly hurt and uncertain about future collaboration. Recent updates indicate some details may still evolve as fight dates and negotiations are announced.