Boxing
Conor Benn and Eddie Hearn: Ten years of trust, one email
Published
3 months agoon
Conor Benn’s departure from Matchroom was announced with warmth and gratitude. He thanked Eddie Hearn for being by his side during the most tough period of his career and said he would “always be truly grateful” for the support shown over the last decade.
Hours later, Hearn’s response suggested the divide was much deeper than a routine promotional move.
Benn signed with Zuffa Boxing in what was widely described as an eight-figure deal – an opportunity he described as one he “just couldn’t refuse.”
But it was the way the split happened that made the big-money move something much more uncomfortable.
The era of trust
Benn turned professional under Hearn in 2016. For ten years, Matchroom guided his career from prospect to major player. When his career stalled following a botched drug testing controversy that kept him off British soil, Hearn publicly supported him.
He didn’t move away from the problem. He didn’t quietly let the relationship fade away.
“I’ve known about this for a few days now and what’s been going on. I actually received an email from Conor Benn’s lawyer informing me about it,” Hearn told IFL TV.
“I’m not going to sit here and hang Conor Benn out to desiccated. But I have to be forthright with you, I’m personally very devastated.”
Hearn also described financial support during this period.
“I believed him, supported him and never gave up. When he finished, I lent him hundreds of thousands of pounds.”
The deal that never was
Hearn admitted he never put Benn on a long-term deal because he didn’t think there was a need. In boxing, that kind of trust rarely goes untested.
“It’s not often that you get shocked, but I blame myself because I forgot it was boxing,” Hearn said. “I just felt like the loyalty we showed would never, ever put us in this situation.
“I just felt like I never actually had to get Conor Benn to sign a up-to-date contract. I blame myself. I made a mistake because I misjudged the character.”
That last line hit like a shot because it came from a man who defended him when many people didn’t want to.
Revolving Eubank
Benn’s commercial power was rebuilt in two major London events against Chris Eubank Jr. – evenings that restored his image, earning power and market position.
Matchroom put them up. Hearn promoted them. The risk was absorbed, the value was returned, and Benn returned to a leading financial position.
Then came Zuffa.
The phone call that didn’t happen
The most revealing part of Hearn’s relationship wasn’t the money. It was a process.
“When I got the email from his lawyer, I texted him and said I think we should call. I think for everything I’ve done for you, I deserve a call, and he refused,” Hearn said.
Hearn continued: “I just don’t know what to say. Other than that I just felt like everything we gave him, the loyalty we gave him, the support we gave him, there was enough to talk about it or just get close to a certain number, but there wasn’t really any interest.”
If the decision itself was business, it clearly felt personal to Hearn.
“Very surprising, very painful, but it’s just another moment in life to live from and learn from,” Hearn said. “You lose a little bit of your soul. It’s a little numb. There’s a lot I can say.”
He also suggested outside influence, adding: “He doesn’t think he did anything wrong, but that’s who he is as a person. Sometimes you can poison yourself.”
Already in the Zuffa system
It wasn’t presented as a ponderous transition. Benn is already in Las Vegas for the week of Mario Barrios vs. Ryan Garcia and has been training at the UFC Performance Institute.
This move is not theoretical. Benn is already in the Zuffa infrastructure.
The bigger picture
Benn’s statement hailed the move as an opportunity he could not refuse, while also expressing appreciation for his decade at Matchroom.
Hearn’s response put it another way: trust given, support provided, loan of money, then departure through lawyers followed by refusal to speak to the phone.
Boxing has always blurred the line between friendship and business. This division is a reminder that in current boxing, loyalty only lasts as long as the leverage lasts.
About the author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN), boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
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Boxing
Frank Warren says Tyson Fury will do what Daniel Dubois did to Joshua
Published
2 hours agoon
June 5, 2026
Frank Warren believes Tyson Fury will not only beat Anthony Joshua when the long-awaited heavyweight clash finally happens, but also stop him.
The All-British clash is scheduled for November, after a delay from its earlier summer date. Warren confirmed that Fury signed a contract for the fight in January, and both men are expected to undergo interim fights before the fight becomes official.
When asked how he sees the fight developing, Warren made it clear he expected Fury to win and pointed to Joshua’s knockout loss to Daniel Dubois as a major factor.
“I think Tyson will win,” Warren told Secondsout, predicting a Tyson Fury knockout over Joshua.
“I think Tyson will stop him.
“Did you see him fight Daniel Dubois? That gives me that confidence. I was sure Daniel Dubois would do it and he did it, and I’m sure Tyson will do the same in brief order, no matter what catches him.”
Earlier in the interview, Warren also suggested that Joshua was still feeling the effects of the Dubois defeat.
“He has the specter and cloud of what happened when he fought Daniel Dubois hanging over him. So, you know, he’s vulnerable if he gets caught now,” Warren said.
Joshua is scheduled to return on July 25 against Kristian Pregna, while Fury is scheduled to fight his own warm-up fight before November. Warren said the location for the proposed blockbuster has yet to be determined, though he confirmed the fight remains signed and will likely take place later this year, provided both heavyweights win their fights.

Olly Campbell is a boxing journalist covering this sport since 2014, providing reports from the ring and technical analyzes of the most crucial fights. His work focuses on fighter tendencies, tactical adjustments and the details that shape high-level competition.
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Last update: 2026/06/04 at 23:14
Boxing
World champion will be stripped of his title if he refuses to fight David Benavidez next: ‘That’s it’
Published
4 hours agoon
June 4, 2026
David Benavidez won the WBA and WBO cruiserweight world titles with his last fight, and the “Mexican Monster” may add to his collection in the future after one of the world champions was ordered to fight him under the threat of being stripped of his belt.
Last month I moved up from light heavyweight and dethroned Gilberto Ramirez in sensational styleBenavidez now holds the WBA (regular) and WBC featherlight heavyweight world titles, as well as his recently won unified cruiserweight crown.
As a result, the 29-year-old must decide whether he should return to the featherlight heavyweight scene or stay in the cruiserweight division, where he put in arguably the best performance of his career last time out after tuning out his fight with Jai Opetaia.
However, Benavidez was also named the WBC cruiserweight mandatory challenger and was ordered to fight WBC cruiserweight champion Noel Mikaelian, another who has been linked to a fight with Opetaia.
If Mikaelian refuses to defend the title against Benavidez, the WBC president announced in an interview for the WBC magazine that he would strip the Armenian of the belt. Boxing Scene.
“The WBC order is Mikaelian against Benavidez. That’s all. If he fights again, he will waive his obligations to the WBC.”
“[There is no deadline] at this time. I will be talking to different managers. This is the highest priority. I look forward to making sure that happens.”
If Mikaeilian decides to continue the fight with Opetaia and thus lose the world title, it can be expected that Polish-born interim champion Michał Cieślak will benefit. Either he will be elevated to full world champion and ordered to make his first defense against Benavidez, or he will be included in a vacant belt fight against the three-division world champion.
Boxing
Peter Fury claims Tyson used the wrong tactics against Usyk
Published
6 hours agoon
June 4, 2026
“Well, he has his team there and I’m not criticizing anyone, but in both fights his tactics weren’t good,” Peter said in an interview with Sport Boxing.
“It worked out badly because look, if we have a little guy here who can throw, let’s say, a welterweight who can throw a thousand punches, and we have a heavyweight, will a heavyweight fighter throw a thousand punches with him? No.”
“Or maybe he’ll step in and take one good shot? Absolutely.”
“So basically yes, the strategy was just wrong. It doesn’t mean Usyk was better than him. It doesn’t mean he doesn’t say anything. You misunderstand the tactics and they are wrong.
“And you know, when you look at Usyk’s structure and what he does, when he distances himself and tries to box an elite boxer who is lighter than you and who is giving away pounds, he will ping you all over the shop. That should be noticed,” Peter Fury said.
Tyson Fury announced his return earlier this year and is expected to have a preparatory fight before the start of his scheduled series with Anthony Joshua. Queensbury promoter Frank Warren recently confirmed that Fury’s next opponent could be announced in the coming days, with the long-awaited fight against Joshua expected to take place later this year.
Usyk remains at the top of the heavyweight division and has been ordered to fight WBC interim champion Agit Kabayel. Warren also confirmed that negotiations for the fight are ongoing.
Fury’s third meeting with Usyk has not been announced. Peter Fury, however, remains convinced that the strategy used in the first two fights determined the result.
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