CONOR BENN has spoken out for the first time since leaving Eddie Hearn to sign with UFC boss Dana White and Zuffa Boxing.

Benn has become the latest and most shocking name to join White’s newly-unveiled boxing stable – leaving Hearn devastated.

A man with blonde hair and a dark hoodie, with tattoos on his neck and arm, looks down to the right.
Conor Benn has spoken out for the first time since leaving Eddie HearnCredit: boxing king media
 

A man with bleached blonde hair and tattoos on his neck and arm stands next to a smiling bald man.
Benn and UFC boss Dana White
The son of a legend turned professional aged just 19 with Hearn, being built into a pay-per-view star over the ten-year partnership.

And Hearn stuck by Benn during the doping scandal that threatened to end his career – supporting him publicly and financially behind the scenes.

So Hearn felt bitterly disappointed after Benn walked out on him.

But with the one-fight deal believed to be worth over £10MILLION – the father-of-two says it was a no-brainer.

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Benn told Boxing King Media: “I’m doing this for my family it’s an offer you’d be mentally ill to turn down, so for me, I’m blessed to be in the position I’m in.

“I’m happy to be in the position I’m in. My career’s taken yet another turn in a direction that I didn’t think it would turn into.

“But I wanna maintain my relationship with Matchroom, especially Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith.

“So when it comes down to a decision that I need to make, whether it’s easy or not or whether it’s comfortable or not, it’s a decision that I had to make for me and my family.

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Tyson Fury will make his return in April against Arslanbek Makhmudov, Conor Benn is closing in on a world title shot and Fabio Wardley will defend his newly won heavyweight crown.

Canelo Alvarez will be hoping to return after his defeat to Terence Crawford and heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk will also need to defend his straps.

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Sat 4 – Derek Chisora vs Deontay Wilder – DAZN PPV
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Sat 18 – Manny Pacquiao vs Ruslan Provodnikov
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“In 10 years’ time, in 15 years’ time when I’m done and retired, will anybody care about me then? No, nobody will. Right now I’m hot property, right now I’m this, right now I’m that.

“In 10-15 years’ time, when my kids are 20, when it’s just me and my family sitting down somewhere quiet, is it gonna matter? Is anyone gonna care? No.

“Will another Conor Benn come along? Yes. So ultimately, I have to make the right decision for my family and everything they’ve done for me. I will forever be grateful.”

Benn failed a drug test in 2022 for clomiphene – known to boost testosterone – his career and reputation looked in tatters.

But Hearn stuck by Benn, who protested his innocence after being provisionally banned by UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control.

Benn was eventually cleared to fight when the charges against him were dropped and his provisional suspension was lifted.

But Hearn claimed by which point he had already he lent the boxer “hundreds of thousands” as the legal case threatened to leave Benn penniless.

I’m doing this for my family it’s an offer you’d be mentally ill to turn down, so for me, I’m blessed to be in the position I’m in.

Conor Benn

So Benn’s loyalty has come under question in the wake of his decision to jump ship to Hearn’s new promotional enemy.

But he hit back: “You can see my loyalty with my team as it is. I’ve been with my whole team from day dot. Every single one of my team.

“I don’t switch teams, I don’t switch trainers, everyone’s eating, everyone’s happy, that’s my team over the past 10 years. So that speaks volumes in itself.

“Ultimately it was an extremely hard decision to make without a doubt. I mean, I’ve been with my career and my team and my stable for 10 years.

“Change is never comfortable, but ultimately I’m hoping Eddie is still in my corner, still with me till the wheels fall off, because I believe I’ve got a strong friendship with Eddie.

“But ultimately this is a decision that in 10 to 15 years’ time, if I didn’t take, I’d regret it and any man out there that says otherwise, wouldn’t be doing the right decision by him and his family.”

‘It was a no-brainer’

Hearn said he was contacted about Zuffa’s negotiations by Benn’s lawyer via email – and was denied the chance to talk over the phone.

But Benn said: “I didn’t choose not to speak to him, I didn’t want to go into the details of it.

“And I think things were very heated with the teams and knowing how I am as an individual. Would the call have been beneficial?

“Would the call have been great for us? I personally don’t think it would have.

“But once the dust had settled and it had calmed down, I messaged Eddie saying, ‘I love you mate and this ain’t the end of the road.’

“The journey does continue. But when things are heated, I’ve said things in the moment from previous experiences where you know you regret saying them.

“Why speak in the midst of hurt, ego, pride, anger. Nothing good comes from it. So I think we both could have dealt with it better privately.”

Benn, 29, is coming off two middleweight mega-fights with Chris Eubank Jr, 36, winning the November rematch after first losing in April.

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He earned close to £10m for each grudge match – with Zuffa set to match that price – leaving his dad Nigel in favour of the switch.

Benn said: “My dad, when he heard the numbers was, it was a no-brainer.”