Barry Hearn breaks silence on ‘classless’ Conor Benn split with Eddie Hearn

Barry Hearn has been left deeply disappointed in the ‘classless way’ Conor Benn split from Matchroom.

On Friday, Benn shocked the sporting world by announcing he had signed with Dana White-fronted rival promoter Zuffa Boxing.

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It marked the end of a 10-year partnership with Matchroom Boxing, led by Barry’s son Eddie Hearn.

The decision left a particularly sour taste in Eddie’s mouth after he and his team fought tooth and nail to prove Benn’s innocence following his two failed drug tests ahead of his initially planned meeting with Chris Eubank Jr in 2022.

Eddie revealed that he ‘loaned Benn hundreds of thousands of pounds’ while his client was ‘down and out’.

He even organised two fights in America against Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson at a supposed loss, during a lengthy legal battle, which culminated in November 2024 when Benn was cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel.

Despite this, Benn refused to take a phone call with Eddie after he was informed of the 29-year-old’s decision via an email from his lawyer.

Matchroom founder and president Hearn Sr has described the situation as the most ‘horrible and outrageous’ moment of his 50-plus years working in sport.

Barry Hearn breaks silence on Conor Benn split

Giving his first reaction to the news on TalkSPORT Breakfast on Monday morning, he said: “Unbelievable, it’s very difficult because boxers do come and go, but this wasn’t your average relationship with a contracted boxer; this was special.

“Conor was as close as he could have been to being in the family.

“And for him to make a decision like this without even a phone call.

“Actually, when Eddie suggested to him by text that they meet to discuss it, Conor suggested it was best to go through lawyers.

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“And after 10 years of what we have had to go through with him, I think in my 50-odd years of promoting sport, this is the most horrible and outrageous [moment].

“I can’t describe the feeling. I suppose it is like when you are married to your wife for 10 years, and she walks out, and you think why? No one discussed it.

“I didn’t think he was that type of boy. Maybe we got it wrong with Conor. We took his side, and we believed everything he said, and maybe we were wrong. I hope not.

“It is personally disappointing because it goes beyond money. He has obviously received a huge offer from Dana White and his team.

“Dana has got Turki Alalshikh’s money behind him, and he needs to sign fighters, and he needs to pay them really well, which he is doing.

“But that doesn’t mean you have to disband a team that built you.

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“The team was already in place, and each member of the team would have taken a bullet from him at ringside, and you don’t often get that in life and then react like this.

“It is deeply upsetting… It is a classless way of doing it when you have an open relationship.

“We took a lot of bullets over this, our company reputation, our personal reputation, where we went to a guy who failed a drug test twice, and we said ‘No, we believe in him’.

“We stood our corner as I would always expect Matchroom to do.

“We have very high standards, but those standards have not been reciprocated.

“After the last Eubank Jr fight, we couldn’t have been in a better position, and it is sad to think that Conor went to America just to solicit offers.”

According to reports, Benn has signed a one-fight deal with Zuffa, worth $15million.

The fight is expected to take place in the United Kingdom on May 31.

WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero and recently crowned WBC welterweight titlist Ryan Garcia have been floated around as potential dance partners.

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