“It’s Classless”- Barry Hearn Blasts Conor Benn Over Eddie Hearn Fallout and Shocking Move to Zuffa Boxing
Eddie Hearn has often described himself as one of boxing’s most successful and influential modern era promoters. However, the Matchroom Boxing chairman recently received shocking news regarding his star fighter, Conor Benn, departing the promotion.
Benn stunned the boxing world after signing with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing for a massive $15 million debut contract. Just days earlier, White publicly mocked Hearn by claiming he still worked under his father’s shadow.
Hearn responded sharply, sarcastically labeling Turki Alalshikh as White’s new daddy during their heated verbal exchange. By successfully signing Benn to Zuffa Boxing, White appeared to decisively win the latest promotional battle.
Hearn was left devastated and mentioned how Benn didn’t even make him a call before making such a big decision. Meanwhile, Hearn’s father, legendary promoter Barry Hearn, openly expressed frustration regarding Benn’s conduct and abrupt departure.
“This wasn’t the average relationship with a contracted boxer, this was special. Conor was as close as he could have been to being part of the family. I think in my 50-odd years of promoting sport, this is the most horrible, outrageous… I can’t describe the feeling of when you’ve been let down. I suppose it’s a bit like you’ve been married for 10 years and your wife walks out and you think, why? I didn’t think he was that type of boy. It’s a classless way of doing it when you’ve got an open relationship,” said Barry Hearn via talkSPORT.
Throughout his career, Eddie Hearn consistently guided Conor Benn by securing major fights and promotional opportunities worldwide. Hearn invested significant time, resources, and reputation building Benn into a headline attraction across multiple international boxing markets.
When Benn faced the highly controversial PED testing incident, Hearn publicly defended him despite widespread criticism from the media. He stood firmly beside Benn, insisting on due process while absorbing backlash from fans, fighters, and industry analysts. Many respected boxing experts have since labeled Benn’s departure one of the sport’s most shocking betrayals.
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UFC superstar criticizes UFC for paying Conor Benn $15 million
The UFC has long faced criticism regarding fighter pay disparity compared to professional boxing purses. Debates intensify whenever comparisons highlight massive guaranteed boxing contracts against relatively modest MMA earnings.
With Dana White offering $15 million to Conor Benn reignited widespread controversy. The lucrative deal sparked backlash from several fighters within the organization, questioning long-standing compensation structures. Among them, Sean O’Malley delivered blunt and unfiltered comments addressing the growing frustration.
“I’ve never f**king heard of him(Conor Benn)… It’s crazy how you put in so much work in the UFC. Build this name, create this character, be a star. I’m not making f**king $15 million to fight,” said Sean O’Malley via YouTube.
Apart from O’Malley, Sean Strickland openly criticized UFC contracts as predatory and fundamentally unfair toward fighters. Previously, Eddie Hearn warned fans might revolt after discovering purses offered under Zuffa Boxing deals. Despite a new collaboration with Paramount, many UFC fighters remain dissatisfied with their current compensation structures.
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