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Eddie Hearn claims Conor Benn offered money to keep his silence

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Image: Eddie Hearn Claims Conor Benn Offered Money to Stay Quiet

Benn’s departure surprised many company employees. The 29-year-old has reportedly signed a one-fight deal worth approximately $15 million with a fresh promotional venture run by Dana White. Hearn said he had only three days to match the offer, which he described as commercially unrealistic.

The Matchroom promoter explained that another part of the conversation stunned him.

“It was like, ‘We’ll give you a few quid if you don’t say anything bad,'” Hearn told iFL TV.

“And I said, ‘What?’ “We still want to work with you, and here’s a few quid.”

Hearn said the proposal was circulated internally within Matchroom before any response was considered.

“I received it and it went to Frank Smith and Shaun Palmer,” Hearn said. “And we all immediately go, ‘Did you see that? Are they laughing?’ Everyone was just completely shocked.”

The breakup ended a long collaboration. Hearn promoted Benn from his professional debut at the age of 19 and guided his rise through the welterweight ranks to major fights in major fights.

Hearn also expressed frustration with the development of communications as negotiations began to change. According to him, the first official notification of Benn’s move came through legal channels and not a direct conversation with the player.

“Maybe four or five days later I texted Conor and said, ‘I really think we should call,’” Hearn said. “After everything I’ve done for you, I don’t think it’s fair that I have to deal with a letter from your lawyer.”

Despite their disagreement, Hearn said his objection was not about Benn seeking a bigger payday.

“Honestly, I think people get it wrong,” Hearn said. “A player should not be deprived of the opportunity to earn a lot of money for his family. I cannot agree with that. That is not the point.”

Benn’s move puts him under the Zuffa Boxing banner as the fresh organization begins to build its roster. His next fight is scheduled for April 11 at 150-pound catchweight against former junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis.

This matchup will see Benn return to the ring under fresh promotional leadership, and the fallout from his split with Matchroom will continue to spark debate about the business side of the sport.

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Lester Martinez Aims for Canelo Alvarez with BoMacs Support

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"Lester Martinez Aims for Canelo Alvarez with BoMac's Support"

Lester Martinez would give Canelo Alvarez a dangerous first defense of his reclaimed WBC super middleweight title. The aggressive Guatemalan can punch and has Brian “BoMac” McIntyre in his corner, giving him access to the trainer who helped Terence Crawford beat Canelo.

“My dream now is to fight Canelo because he’s the champion,” Martinez said to Izquierdazo Boxeo in a quote shared by The Ring. His WBC interim title gives that ambition substance, although it does not establish that Canelo has been ordered to face him next.

The McIntyre connection makes this more interesting than another contender requesting a payday. BoMac knows what went into preparing Crawford for Canelo and could bring that knowledge into Martinez’s camp. The WBC lists McIntyre as Martinez’s trainer. wbcboxing.com

Crawford could also offer firsthand advice about Canelo’s timing, counterpunching and habits under pressure. His involvement in a potential camp has not been announced, but Martinez would have an obvious reason to seek his stablemate’s input.

Mbilli took too long to alter his approach when Canelo’s jab and head movement disrupted his pressure last weekend. He continued following Canelo without consistently changing how he attacked. Martinez would likely arrive expecting those tactics, with McIntyre preparing ways to get past the jab and vary his attack.

That would not make Lester immune to Canelo’s counters. It could, however, reduce the rounds spent trying to work out what to do next. BoMac could prepare alternatives before the opening bell and help Martinez adjust between rounds when Canelo starts frustrating him.

Martinez would still need to win with his own tools. He cannot copy Crawford’s performance. His route would involve sustained pressure, body punching and enough variation to prevent Canelo from anticipating each attack.

His 2025 draw with Mbilli gives him a relevant result against the man Canelo just defeated. Beating Canelo is another matter, but an aggressive puncher arriving with informed preparation would be a serious undertaking for the 36-year-old champion.

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Tyson Fury Unleashes Wilder KO Strategy to Overcome Anthony Joshua

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"Tyson Fury Unleashes Wilder KO Strategy to Overcome Anthony Joshua"

Tyson Fury is going back to the playbook behind his most destructive night. He is targeting 280 pounds when he meets Anthony Joshua on December 11 in Cardiff. He wants the crushing bulk that battered Deontay Wilder years ago. Scaling up to that number on the scales is easy. Recreating that vintage menace nearly seven years later is a totally different story.

Fury announced his intentions directly to his fans online. “Big boy 280lbs incoming,” he posted. “Not your average build. However, the love handles are used for energy.” He already promised a blistering pace out of the gate, followed by a quick stoppage.

Back in February 2020, Fury stepped on the scale at 273 pounds before stopping Wilder in round seven. That was Fury at his peak as an aggressive bruiser. He bullied Wilder backward. He draped his weight over the champion, forcing him to haul around all that mass. Wilder could never find the space needed to trigger his lethal right hand.

Every single pound had a purpose back then because Fury used his bulk masterfully. He smothered Wilder immediately after throwing punches. He disrupted every attempt to recover. He kept trapping Wilder in corners where mounting any counter was nearly impossible. It was relentless physical pressure from a guy focused on total control.

Joshua is a distinct challenge, yet the logic makes total sense. Giving Joshua breathing room allows him to set his feet to unleash heavy shots. Chasing him down can trigger panic before his offense even starts. Fury would immediately test Joshua’s nerves under fire.

The big worry is the condition of those 280 pounds. Fury reached 281 pounds for the rematch against Oleksandr Usyk, looking soft around the waist. That outing provided zero evidence that piling on weight makes him more dangerous.

To handle Joshua, Fury needs agile footwork to cut off escape routes. He needs sharp reflexes to slip incoming fire. He needs enough gas in the tank to keep pressing once the initial charge fades. If Joshua survives that opening assault, the extra pounds could become a heavy burden as the rounds accumulate.

Fury picked a blueprint with real history. Replicating the monster who conquered Wilder is the real challenge.

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Shakur Stevenson Analyzes Canelos Decision Victory Over Christian Mbilli for WBC Title

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Shakur Stevenson Analyzes Canelo's Decision Victory Over Christian Mbilli for WBC Title

Canelo Alvarez returned to the super-middleweight throne with a decision victory over Christian Mbilli on Saturday, and when summarising the performance, pound-for-pound star Shakur Stevenson made his thoughts on the display extremely clear.

At 36-years-old, off the back of both the longest inactive streak of his career and a defeat last time out, Canelo entered the Riyadh ring with many fight fans doubting whether the career of the Mexican superstar was nearing the end.

However, the four-division world champion instead recaptured the WBC super-middleweight title as he handed Mbilli a first career defeat.

Canelo’s experience, ring IQ and accuracy ultimately proving to be too much for the French-Cameroonian champion as he won a unanimous decision with scores of 115-112, 116-111 and 117-110.

That performance has once again made Alvarez the man to beat in the 168lb scene, with each of his fellow world titleholders at the weight desperate to secure a lucrative unification opportunity on his mooted spring 2027 return.

Speaking shortly after witnessing the win, reigning WBO super-lightweight champion Stevenson took to X to praise the efforts of Canelo both on the night and across his career as a whole, labelling the veteran as both a ‘GOAT’ and a ‘legend’.

“Canelo is a [GOAT]Respect legend!!! @canelo”

As far as what is next for Alvarez, it seems as though he will fight again in in either April or May for the final bout of his four-fight contract with Riyadh Season.

At present, Hamzah Sheeraz would likely be deemed as the frontrunnerif Terence Crawford refuses to comeback for the rematch.

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