Benn directly addressed the issue when discussing his split from Matchroom, dismissing the suggestion that he received financial support during the most difficult part of his career. “He didn’t lend me a dime,” Benn said. “And guess who it all fell on? Me.”
Elaborating on that period, Benn pointed to the extent of the financial burden he carried while inactive. “Legal bills fighting my case, I think it’s 1.1 million,” Conor told The Overlap. “I paid every penny of it on my own. Every single penny.”
The cost came during an extended period out of the ring, when Benn was unable to fight as he continued to plead his case. “How do you prepare to not fight for two and a half years and then pay the legal bills?” he said. “I have a child, a son, and then I have a daughter on the way.”
Despite correcting the financial story, Benn has made it clear that there is no animosity towards Hearn or Matchroom. “Matchroom for me has been a huge part of my career. They are the foundation of who Conor Benn is today,” he said.
The decision to leave, he explained, was based on long-term priorities rather than a dispute. “I can say in my heart that this is the best decision I have made for my family,” Benn said, describing the move as necessary for his future outside of the sport as well as inside the sport.
He also emphasized the personal weight behind that thinking. “All that matters is your children and giving your children the best life they can possibly have,” Benn said.
His explanation on the financial side attracted the most attention, with Benn insisting he bore the burden alone during his suspension while still acknowledging the role Matchroom played in building his career.
