Eddie Hearn said Friday he made a crucial mistake which allowed one of his brightest boxing stars, Conor Benn, to leave Matchroom for emerging rival Zuffa Boxing.
Through Matchroom, chairman Hearn guided, developed, and promoted Benn through the biggest ups and downs of his professional career to date, including a drug scandal (clomifene) and a two-fight rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr in front of fervent fight fans in back-to-back bouts inside a British soccer stadium, last year.
But in a shocking announcement Feb. 20, Zuffa sent a statement to Boxing Social and other media to show the upstart boxing firm had acquired Benn. DAZN commentator Chris Mannix reported the one-fight deal was worth eight figures.
Hearn told iFL TV that he was only made aware of the deal this week, and wasn’t fearful of losing an out-of-contract Benn because he assumed the 29-year-old would return loyalty he felt his company had shown him.
An email from a lawyer seemed to blindside Hearn, who said he wanted to communicate with his fighter but was knocked back by Benn himself.
“I’ve known about this for a few days, what was unfolding,” Hearn said. “I received an email from Conor Benn’s lawyer to make me aware of it. I’m not going to sit here and hang Conor Benn out to dry, but I’ve got to be honest with you — me personally, [I’m] pretty devastated.”
“It’s not often you get shocked.I blame myself because … I just forgot it was boxing.”
Hearn continued: “I never felt we needed to push Conor Benn to sign a new contract previously, and I probably could have gotten him to sign. I made a mistake because I misjudged the character. He will say it was a big offer.”
Hearn said he sent a text to Benn, requesting they talk on the phone, as soon as he was aware of Zuffa’s offer.
“For everything we’ve done for you,” Hearn said he told Benn. “I think we should have a call.”
Then the answer came. “No.”
“I was like … f***. I can’t believe it.”
Benn has since gotten back into contact with him, after Zuffa made the announcement public.
“I felt everything we gave him — loyalty, support — would be enough to talk him through, [and] get close to a number, but there wasn’t interest. Very surprising, painful, but another moment in life you live and learn from.
“It feels like a wasted few years … but on we go.”