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Eddie Hearn may have lost one of his biggest stars to Dana White, but at least he has got the sympathy points from the community. After Jai Opetaia left Matchroom in January, Conor Benn followed suit in February. According to reports, the Brit signed a massive $15 million one-fight deal with Zuffa Boxing to face Regis Prograis on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. In the aftermath, some revelations surfaced.
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Hearn publicly revealed that he lent Benn a total sum of £550,000 during his time in the promotion. Although the English fighter paid the full sum back to Hearn, it was a risk for the Matchroom Boxing head, especially if you consider that Benn was nearly sidelined for good when he tested positive for PEDs in 2022. And the Misfits Boxing co-founder, Kalle Sauerland, feels for Hearn in this regard.
“I’ve given them before, yeah…,” Sauerland told Fight Hub TV. “It’s always worked out for me, no. [I] not gonna not gonna go into detail. Have I always gotten my money back? Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Have you got security in a contract? Yeah, I’d argue you wouldn’t get out of the bank. [But] what happens if [the boxer] pulls his Achilles and never wants to box again?
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“So, the security part, you got side with Eddie. There ain’t much security in a contract because the guy’s got [to] fight as well, you know. So, it’s a tricky one. I’m gonna always side with a promoter, of course. But I can, you know, I’m just gonna see Conor’s point of view, I guess, as well, somewhere. But I do feel for Eddie because I’ve been there before. I know it’s like a weird breakup.”
‼️ Kalle Sauerland speaks out on Eddie Hearn claiming he gave advances to Conor Benn. 💰
“The security part you got to side with Eddie as there’s not much in the contract. I will always side with the promoter but I do see Conor point of view!”- Kalle Sauerland pic.twitter.com/mWw9h5ayoY
— Fight Hub TV (@FightHubTV) April 7, 2026
Conor Benn signed a promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing in 2016 and made his debut under the banner later that year. The partnership endured through both highs and lows as Benn steadily built his career. It was also thanks to Matchroom that his long-anticipated fights with rival Chris Eubank Jr. came to fruition.
At the end of the day, boxers are prizefighters, and it’s hard to fault them for signing with promoters willing to offer the biggest purses. Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing has been particularly aggressive in this regard. The promotion already has a deal in place with Paramount to stage between 12 and 18 boxing events annually, with plans to expand further.
It’s also worth mentioning that Dana White’s ongoing feud with Eddie Hearn has fueled suggestions that his moves to sign Conor Benn and Jai Opetaia were, at least in part, driven by a desire to get back at Hearn. Amid the fallout, Benn has offered his perspective on the fiasco.
Conor Benn says Eddie Hearn never gave him a cent
The British boxer has pushed back against claims from Eddie Hearn, insisting his former promoter never gave him any money during the toughest period of his career. Speaking on The Overlap with Gary Neville, Benn rejected suggestions that Matchroom Boxing supported him financially following his failed drug tests.
“It all fell on me,” Benn said. “Nobody paid my legal bills; he didn’t lend me a cent. I paid the legal bills myself. Nobody called me to see if I had food on the table—I had to do that myself.
Hearn, who had publicly backed Benn throughout his suspension and dispute, previously claimed he helped the fighter through those challenges. However, Benn’s version sharply contradicts that narrative.
Now aligned with Zuffa Boxing, Benn suggests the experience reshaped his outlook:
“Nobody will defend you when you’re done and gone. That three years taught me what I know.“
When asked to compare his earnings at Zuffa Boxing with what he made at Matchroom Boxing, Conor Benn said the difference is drastic.
“It’s not even close,” he added. “Until you’re in that position, you won’t know; any fight can be the last fight. I promised myself I’d never feel that way again.”
It appears Dana White has managed to create a rift between Conor Benn and his former promoter, Eddie Hearn. Despite getting a massive paycheck, Conor Benn has to fight again. It will be interesting to see what Benn does next.
Written by
Edited by
Gokul Pillai