Conor Benn Joins Zuffa Boxing
British boxer Conor Benn, with a professional record of 24 wins and one loss in 25 fights, has departed from Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing to sign with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing promotional company.
The 29-year-old had been affiliated with Matchroom since turning professional. Benn notably defeated his long-time rival Chris Eubank Jr in a high-profile rematch at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November, having lost their initial encounter in April.
In an Instagram statement, Benn expressed enthusiasm about his new partnership and gratitude towards his former promoters.
"First and foremost I want to thank Eddie and the entire team at Matchroom for everything they have done for me over the past decade," wrote Benn, son of former two-weight world champion Nigel Benn. "From guiding me when I first turned pro, to headlining stadium shows. They were not only with me for those highlight moments but stood shoulder to shoulder with me during the tough times."
Benn and Eubank Jr were originally scheduled to fight in 2022, but the bout was cancelled after Benn failed a voluntary drugs test, testing positive twice for the banned substance Clomifene. This led to a two-year dispute with authorities before Benn's suspension was lifted in November 2024.
'I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights'
Conor Benn's professional record stands at 24 wins and one loss, the latter against Eubank Jr, whose father Chris Sr fought Nigel Benn twice in the early 1990s. Benn's victory over Eubank Jr in November positioned him close to a world title challenge.
Zuffa Boxing, supported by UFC president Dana White and Saudi Arabian investment, held its inaugural event in January and aims to revolutionize professional boxing.
White's goal is to bypass the four traditional sanctioning bodies — WBO, WBC, IBF, and WBA — and establish Zuffa's championship belt as the premier world title alongside the Ring Magazine title, which is owned by Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh.
"Conor Benn is an absolute beast and a superstar," said White. "He shows up every time and destroys people, and now some of the best fighters in the world are calling him out. He's ready for a world title next and I can't wait to see him compete in Zuffa Boxing. He's going to be a huge addition to a growing stable of very talented boxers."
Benn also expressed hope that Hearn could remain involved in his future fights.
"I want the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages. I fear no man at any weight and I'm ready to give the fans the fights they've been calling for."
Analysis: A move that shocks boxing
Benn secured a unanimous points decision in his second fight with Eubank Jr.
The announcement of Benn's move shocked the boxing community, as there were no prior indications or rumors. Typically, when a fighter changes promoters, the outgoing promoter issues a statement or warning, but this was not the case here.
Dana White has openly expressed his intention to disrupt boxing's established power structure, and signing Benn, a fighter with significant mainstream appeal despite some skepticism, represents a strategic acquisition.
Eddie Hearn had supported Benn throughout the doping controversy and was actively positioning him for a world-title opportunity. Benn is currently the mandatory challenger for the winner of the Mario Barrios versus Ryan Garcia fight and has openly pursued a world championship.
Zuffa recently signed reigning cruiserweight world champion Jai Opetaia, with a long-term vision of unifying titles under one belt — the Zuffa title — eliminating dependence on traditional sanctioning bodies.
This raises questions about Benn's future direction: will he aim to become the first Zuffa welterweight champion?
In recent exchanges, White dismissed Hearn's credentials and joked that Hearn works for his father Barry, prompting Hearn to retort that White's superior is Alalshikh. From a public relations perspective, this represents a significant victory for White, intensifying the promotional rivalry.
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