Eddie Hearn claims Conor Benn turned down a world title fight, prior to his bout with Regis Prograis.
Hearn was ringside on Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to witness his old charge Benn see off Prograis by unanimous decision.
It was the Brit’s first fight since controversially leaving Hearn’s Matchroom for Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing in a one-fight deal reportedly worth $15m.
The clash was made at 150 pounds, with Benn making his way down to 147 pounds following two fights with Chris Eubank Jr last year at middleweight.
Hearn says he floated the idea of ‘The Destroyer’ facing IBF welterweight world champion, Lewis Crocker, but claims the 29-year-old had no interest in fighting him.
“I wanted him to fight Lewis Crocker,” the Matchroom Chairman told Pro Boxing Fans on Thursday.
“We went for lunch and I said, ‘you could fight Lewis Crocker. That’s a great fight. That’s a very tough fight, but if you win that fight you’re world champion.’
“[He said] ‘I don’t want to fight Lewis Crocker, I don’t like Billy Nelson.’
“I said, ‘what the f*** has that got to do with it, just fight him.’
“Then we talked about Josh Kelly [and he said] ‘no f*** Josh Kelly.’
“I think he’s right, because he’s only going to make a few million to fight those guys and Zuffa just s***ked their load giving him $15m to fight a bloke who couldn’t even stand up.
“So he’s smart, he’s making his money.”
Benn, who is the number one contender with the WBC at welterweight, is reportedly in talks to face world champion, Ryan Garcia.
Garcia claimed earlier this week that the showdown will be staged in Las Vegas in August.
Hearn says he won’t be making a play to resign Benn, despite his deal with Zuffa expiring.
“As I understand it I can [make an offer to Benn],” the 46-year-old told media including Pro Boxing Fans on Tuesday.
“I believe that would be a complete waste of time and I certainly won’t be.”
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