Conor Benn Joins Zuffa Boxing
British welterweight Conor Benn left Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing to sign with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing. The 24-1 fighter is expected to become a major player in White's growing combat sports empire. Mario Barrios is set to defend his WBC welterweight title against Ryan Garcia.
- Zuffa is the company, founded by the Fertitta brothers and Dana White, that purchased the UFC in 2001 and transformed it into a global brand before selling it to Endeavor in 2016. The "Zuffa" brand was revived in June 2025 for this new boxing promotion, which is a joint venture between TKO Group Holdings (UFC's parent company) and Sela, a Saudi entertainment company. - The promotion's first event, Zuffa Boxing 01, took place on January 23, 2026, at the Meta Apex in Las Vegas and was streamed on Paramount+. The main event featured Irish middleweight Callum Walsh defeating Carlos Ocampo. - Benn's signing is part of a broader strategy to build a roster of established fighters. Other notable boxers linked to Zuffa Boxing include IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia and former champions Jose Valenzuela and Oleksandr Gvozdyk. - The welterweight division (147 lbs) is historically one of boxing's most talent-rich divisions. Current world titleholders at welterweight include Mario Barrios, Lewis Crocker, Rolando Romero, and Devin Haney. - Conor Benn was at the center of a doping controversy in 2022 when he twice tested positive for the banned substance clomiphene, leading to the cancellation of a highly anticipated fight against Chris Eubank Jr. - After a lengthy process, the UK's National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) cleared Benn of intentional wrongdoing in November 2024, a decision that UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control did not appeal, making him free to fight again in the UK. - During his suspension in the UK, Benn fought twice in the United States, securing wins over Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson. His professional record was 23-1 prior to the announcement. - According to reports, Benn's agreement with Zuffa Boxing is a one-fight deal valued in the eight figures, allowing him to headline an event for the new promotion without a long-term commitment.
