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‘Horrible, outrageous’: Barry Hearn reacts to Conor Benn leaving Matchroom to join Zuffa

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“Horrible, outrageous”: Barry Hearn reacts to Conor Benn leaving Matchroom to join Zuffa

Barry Hearn has shared his reaction to the news that Conor Benn has left Matchroom to join Dana White and Zuffa Boxing.

The shocking news was announced on Friday eveningand Benn left Matchroom after 10 years together, making his professional debut in 2016.

Although the boxing side of Matchroom is now controlled by Eddie Hearn, his father Barry still remains a key part of the business and said Talksport that he thinks Benn leaving to pursue a relationship with White is the most outrageous thing he has ever seen in sports.

“Unbelievable. Boxers come and go, but this was not your average relationship with a contract boxer. Conor Benn was as close to being part of the family as he could get, and for him to make such a decision without even a phone call or even Eddie suggesting via text that they meet to discuss the matter, Conor suggested it would be best to approach the lawyers.”

“In 10 years after what he and I went through, in my 50 years of promoting sports, this is the most terrible, outrageous [thing I’ve seen]. I can’t describe the feeling of being let down. It’s like you were married for 10 years and your wife left and you wondered why. Nobody discussed it.

“I didn’t think he was that type of boy. Maybe we misunderstood Conor, sided with him and believed everything he said, or maybe we were wrong. It’s personally disappointing because it goes beyond money.”

Hearn also stated that he was not surprised that White offered Benn a contract, but that the British player should not have acted the way he did.

“Of course he got a huge offer from Dana White because Dana has to make a splash in boxing. He has Turki Alalshikh’s money behind him and he has to sign players and he has to pay them really well, which he does, but that doesn’t mean the team should be disbanded.”

Benn will make his first fight under the Zuffa banner in May, and it will be his first appearance since defeating longtime rival Chris Eubank Jr in November.

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Prince Naseem Hamed predicts Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight: ‘It’s going to sound crazy’

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Prince Naseem Hamed predicts Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: “This is going to sound mad”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua look set to face each other later this year in what could be one of the biggest British boxing events of all time.

Another British legend, Naseem Hamed, presented the course of the fight in a surprising way.

Fury had his ring returned within a a decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this monthshaking off ring rust at the age of 37 and allegedly preparing for a showdown with Joshua that the “Gypsy King” was set to take place this summer.

However, ‘AJ’ instead maintained that he would prefer a warm-up fight first, with the Londoner expected to return to action in July, ahead of a long-awaited meeting with his arch-rival in November.

I’m talking to talkSPORT BoxingHamed was looking forward to this match and suggested that a draw could be on the cards.

“Who do I think will win the fight between AJ and Fury? Well, that is the question and everyone wants to know.

“Years ago, Tyson had this awkward style for me where he could make AJ look stupid, that’s true. Now everything has changed. Tyson seemed to have backed off a little bit.

“But with Tyson Fury you never know, maybe one night he’ll show up and box amazingly and do what he did to Wilder. Those first few rounds [against Makhmudov]I was a little disappointed that he didn’t go from the start.

“This is going to sound crazy to you, but would it be unbelievable if I said it could be a draw?”

It is unclear whether Fury will also fight in the summer or whether he will avoid risking a lucrative romance with Joshua and wait patiently on the sidelines.

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Adam Smith reveals Ben Whittaker’s summer fight plan

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Image: Adam Smith reveals Ben Whittaker summer fight plan

Ben Whittaker’s next few months are already taking shape following his quick knockout victory in Liverpool, and Adam Smith outlines a busy summer schedule that should finally see the delicate heavyweight fighter face stronger tests

Smith said Whittaker is expected to return to the United States in overdue June on the Jaron “Boots” Ennis card, then return to the UK in the summer for a major date in his hometown of Birmingham.


Whittaker stopped Brian Suarez in two rounds last weekend and performed brilliantly throughout, adding another early finish to the stretch that helped rebuild attention around him after his first fight with Liam Cameron ended in a draw.

Smith said the June outing would support expose Whittaker to a wider audience ahead of a bigger national night later in the year.

“He will fight at the end of June in America at the Boots Ennis gala. That’s good. Show him to a global audience. Then he will come back here in overdue summer, maybe early September and fight in Birmingham in a huge fight,” Adam Smith said in an interview with Sport Boxing.

Smith also named British opponents who could be next, naming Lyndon Arthur, Brad Rea and Craig Richards as possible options once Whittaker returns home.

Smith believes that in the long term, bigger domestic fights with Joshua Buatsi and Anthony Yard should come within the next year if Whittaker continues to win.

“Buatsis and Yards need to be delivered within the next 6-12 months.”

Whittaker has had a lot of notoriety since turning pro, but the activity and matchmaking are looking more grave now. The next two fights should tell more than the first ten.

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Last updated: 24/04/2026 at 17:38

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Oscar De La Hoya admits that he would consider returning on one condition

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Oscar De La Hoya admits he would consider comeback under one condition

Six-division world champion and Golden Boy promoter Oscar De La Hoya hasn’t fought since 2008, but revealed he would be willing to return for one fighter.

De La Hoya is a newfangled pound-for-pound legend, being one of only two six-division champions in the history of the sport – joined by Filipino fan favorite Manny Pacquiao, who has reached eighth in this ultra-elite club.

While De La Hoya has moved on to promote the sport, “Pac Man” recently returned to the pro ranks, challenging Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight world title last July in an attempt to break his own record as boxing’s oldest 147-pound ruler.

Pacquiao could only get a draw in that fight, but now he’s ready for an even bigger fight – at least financially – after signing a contract for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, who defeated him in 2015 in the “Fight of the Century.”

Time will tell whether this fight will have an impact on Mayweather’s renowned 50-0 record or not. “TBE” apparently wants to change his contract to an exhibition fight despite signing a contract for sanctioned competition.

If that fight takes place in September, Mayweather will come out on top again, De La Hoya said Fighting the noise that he would also be willing to have a rematch with Mayweather.

“I am a fighter. I will always be a fighter. If Mayweather beats Pacquiao, Floyd, you owe me a rematch! Let’s go!”

Mayweather defeated De La Hoya by split decision to win the WBC super lightweight title in 2007, and De La Hoya still maintains he deserved to win the fight.

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