Eddie Hearn has claimed that Conor Benn offered him money to avoid speaking negatively about their split after the British boxer signed a blockbuster deal with Zuffa Boxing.
Benn’s decision to leave Hearn’s Matchroom stable after a decade together came as a surprise within the industry, with the 29-year-old agreeing terms on what has been widely reported as a $15million one-fight deal with the new promotional venture headed up by Dana White.
Hearn, who guided Benn from his professional debut at 19 and oversaw his rise to world-level contention, admitted he was ‘devastated’ by the departure. He also revealed he was given just three days to match the offer – which he felt was ‘completely unreasonable commercially’.
Despite Benn publicly insisting he would still like a relationship with his former promoter and even suggesting there could be a place for him within his team, Hearn says part of the exit discussions left him stunned and disappointed in his former star.
Speaking to iFL TV about the way in which Benn handled the situation, Hearn said: ‘There was something else which was, “We’ll give you a few quid if you don’t say anything bad”, kind of thing.
‘And I was like, ‘What?’ ‘We still want to work with you and here’s a few quid.’
Hearn has claimed Benn offered him money to avoid speaking negatively about their split
Benn announced he had jumped ship to Dana White’s promotional company Zuffa Boxing
‘And I’m just like… so I’ve received it and it’s gone to Frank Smith and Shaun Palmer, who we’re kind of the main operators within the business.
‘And we’re all then straight on like, ‘Have you seen that? Are they f***ing having a laugh?’ Everyone was just completely shocked.’
Hearn also expressed frustration at how the communication was handled, revealing he first learned of developments formally through Benn’s legal team rather than directly from the fighter.
He said: ‘I text Conor maybe four or five days later and said, ‘I really think we should have a call. For everything that I’ve done for you, I don’t think it’s fair that I should have to deal with a letter from your lawyer. Let’s just have a chat.
‘Basically, man to man. And he said, ‘I heard you were quite emotional on the call. I think we should just let it all die down and talk another time.
‘I’m like, f*** me.’ And that was probably the moment where I just thought I cannot believe on the believe.’
While reiterating that he respects any fighter’s right to maximise their earning potential, Hearn insisted his issue was not financial.
‘To be honest, I think people get it a little bit mixed up between a fighter shouldn’t be denied an opportunity to make a load of money for their family and all this kind of stuff,’ he said.
Benn’s decision to leave Hearn’s Matchroom stable after a decade together came as a surprise
Conor Benn will fight Regis Prograis on April 11 on the same card as the returning Tyson Fury
‘I couldn’t agree more. This is not about that. This is just the way that you act to someone that has done so much for you and has basically saved your career.
‘And if you listen to the Conor Benn story, I don’t want to say saved his life, but the people who were there for him like that – which you can count on one hand – played a massive part in that.
‘So to forget them or to treat them with disloyalty for me is unforgivable.’
Benn’s next bout is scheduled for April 11 in a 150lb catchweight clash against former 140lb world champion Regis Prograis.
He is coming off two high-profile contests with Chris Eubank Jr and remains highly ranked at welterweight as he prepares to begin the next chapter of his career under new promotional leadership.
