Conor Benn’s Promotion Switch
Conor Benn has publicly shared that the financial proposals from Zuffa Boxing were significantly higher than those from Matchroom, which ultimately made his decision to switch promotions clear-cut. Benn made headlines last month by announcing his departure from Matchroom to join Zuffa Boxing, sparking a public feud between the two promotional giants, represented by Eddie Hearn and Dana White.
Financial Differences and Personal Reflections
In an appearance on The Overlap with Gary Neville, Benn stated,
“Yes, it’s drastic,”
when questioned about the contrasts in the offer amounts. He elaborated, saying the financial differences were not minor, differing by several million.
“If the gap were a few million, we could probably negotiate something, but this situation is quite different.”
The boxer acknowledged that “ego” played a significant role in the fallout with Matchroom’s Hearn, emphasizing that he still values their friendship. He noted,
“I didn’t inform Eddie directly; instead, I reached out with a longer message suggesting we reconnect when things cool down. We’re friends outside of work, but such public disputes can be damaging to one’s ego.”
Career Reflections and Future Plans
Reflecting on difficult times in his career, Benn mentioned,
“I promised myself I would never face such discomfort again. Everything fell solely on me—my legal costs were entirely my responsibility; Eddie didn’t contribute. No one checked in to see if I was okay or had food to eat. This past three years were eye-opening.”
Benn also affirmed that his commitment to Zuffa Boxing is limited to just one fight, leaving his options open for the future.
“It’s a one-fight contract, after which I’ll be a free agent. I could pursue my own path, potentially rejoin Matchroom, or continue with Zuffa. It’s a tactic that might seem shortsighted, but the excitement it generated was worth it. I anticipate that DAZN may reach out to me again, but I remain on positive terms and have no grievances,”
he concluded.
