Conor Benn has left Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom set-up for a lucrative one-fight deal with Zuffa but says he still wants his former promoter in his corner despite the split.
Benn made it clear that there are no hard feelings towards Hearn, even after the reaction to his departure. “I have love for Matchroom, and I have love for Eddie,” Benn told talkSport Boxing, adding: “Irrelevant of what’s been said, I still want Eddie in my corner. I don’t have any type of feelings towards them.”
The move ends a long association with Matchroom, where Hearn supported Benn through key stages of his career, including the period when the fighter worked to clear his name after testing positive for a banned substance. Hearn has since said he was disappointed not to receive a direct call from Benn before the decision was made and pointed to the support he provided, both professionally and financially.
Benn opted for a short-term deal instead, confirming that his April 11 fight is part of a one-fight deal with Zuffa. He described the offer as the best available option for his situation. “Ultimately, it’s the best decision for me, my family, my career,” Benn said.
What follows remains unclear. Benn has not committed beyond the single fight, leaving open whether he could return to Matchroom or continue with Zuffa if further offers are made. The deal that brought him there has been described as the best by a wide margin, and any extension is likely to come on similar terms. Whether a return to Matchroom would be possible was not addressed, although Hearn has not shown a pattern of holding fighters to past decisions.
The business relationship has changed. The personal one, at least on Benn’s part, is something he says he hasn’t concluded.
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Last updated on 03/26/2026 at 2:03 am
