“When I received the email from Conor Benn’s lawyer, I texted him and said, ‘I think we should have a call. For everything I’ve done for you, I deserve a call,’” Hearn told IFL TV. “And he said no. I can’t believe it.”
The refusal made clear that Benn’s decision had already moved beyond negotiation. Hearn indicated Matchroom was willing to engage financially, but the absence of direct communication removed any realistic path to keeping him.
“We replied. We actually part of the deal, I think we would have got quite close to it,” Hearn said. “But I think by then it was just the way that it played out. To receive an email from the lawyer and then to ask for a call and not get the willingness to have a call, I think by then it was just like you kind of lose a little bit of your soul to it.”
Benn’s agreement with Zuffa Boxing is reportedly a one-fight deal worth eight figures, allowing him to compete under the new promotion without committing long-term. The structure gives him immediate financial upside while keeping his future open beyond a single appearance.
Hearn acknowledged the business reality behind Benn’s move, but admitted he believed their history and support would have at least led to a direct conversation before any decision was finalized.
“I blame myself,” Hearn said. “I misjudged the character. I just felt that the loyalty that we’ve shown would never, ever put us in this position.”
The episode exposes a hard truth about boxing’s shifting power structure. Benn did not leave through negotiation. He left through decision, and Matchroom only learned of it once the outcome was already sealed.
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