Benn later explained that he chose not to make the call while emotions were running high. “I didn’t choose not to talk to him, I didn’t want to get into the details of it,” Benn told Boxing King Media about Hearn. “I think things were really heated with the teams, and knowing how I am as an individual, would the call have been beneficial? Would the call have been great for us? And I personally don’t think it would have been.”
His explanation suggested that the silence was deliberate rather than dismissive. Benn added that once tempers cooled, he reached out directly. “When the dust settled and it settled, I sent Eddie a message and said, ‘I love you mate, and you know, it’s not the end of the road, you know, the journey does go on.’
Those words complicate the initial perception of the deal as a clean break. Reports earlier this week indicated that Benn’s deal with Zuffa could be limited to a single fight worth $15 million. If accurate, the structure leaves room for Benn to return to Matchroom once that obligation is met, especially if commercial terms suit both sides.
The ongoing dispute between Hearn and Dana White has been playing out publicly for months, and Benn’s decision put him in the middle of that rivalry. He admitted that both sides could have handled the situation better privately. “When things get heated, I’ve said things in the moment from past experiences where you regret saying them,” Benn said. “Why talk in the midst of hurt, ego, pride, anger? Nothing good comes of it. I think we both could have handled it in private.”
This tone is noticeably conciliatory for a fighter who has just secured a lucrative new arrangement. It also indicates that Benn understands the long-term value of maintaining working relationships in a sport where promotional alliances often shift depending on opportunity and timing.
His immediate focus now turns to his debut under the Zuffa banner. Benn recently called out Ryan Garcia following Garcia’s WBC welterweight title success, urging him to “keep the belt hot.” That ambition introduces another complication, as Zuffa has indicated that he will not recognize sanctions bodies in the traditional model. Any fight involving a WBC titleholder would therefore require alignment on terms that do not currently exist under Zuffa’s stated position.
For Benn, the appeal of a high-profile fight in the United States is clear, especially against an opponent with Garcia’s profile. Still, his comments about Hearn show he’s careful not to close doors at home as he pursues that opportunity abroad. The messages are measured rather than provocative, and that distinction matters in a sport where public outbursts can quickly become permanent.
Matchroom invested heavily in Benn’s career, taking him from domestic competitor to international attraction. Even though this chapter features a temporary split, Benn seems keen to avoid turning it into a public feud that limits his options later on.
The initial shock of the Zuffa signing suggested a dramatic shift in allegiance. However, Benn’s own words paint a more pragmatic picture of a fighter who seizes a short-term opportunity without burning long-term bridges. That approach may not satisfy every promoter involved, but it reflects a boxer who thinks as much about business as rivalry, and that’s rarely accidental.
