Conor Benn Joins Zuffa Boxing
Conor Benn has left Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing to sign with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing. The British fighter, with 24 wins in 25 professional fights, is now positioned as a centerpiece of White's push to disrupt traditional boxing promotion. The move could significantly shake up promotional dynamics and fighter matchups in 2026.
- The move follows a turbulent period for Benn, who was at the center of a doping controversy that led to the cancellation of a highly anticipated 2022 bout against Chris Eubank Jr. - Benn twice tested positive for the banned substance clomifene, a female fertility drug, in tests administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA). He maintained his innocence, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) later suggested that a "highly-elevated consumption of eggs" could be a reasonable explanation for the findings. - After a protracted legal process, Benn's provisional suspension was lifted by the National Anti-Doping Panel in November 2024, clearing him to fight again in the U.K. During his suspension, he fought twice in the United States, securing wins over Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson. - Benn's departure from Matchroom Boxing ends a 10-year relationship with promoter Eddie Hearn, who had guided his career since his professional debut in 2016. Hearn stood by Benn throughout the doping controversy. - The signing is a significant move for Dana White's Zuffa Boxing, indicating a serious push into the boxing world and a potential rivalry with established promoters like Matchroom. The existing public feud between White and Hearn makes any future collaboration unlikely. - Benn is the son of British boxing legend Nigel Benn, a former two-division world champion. - Potential future opponents for Benn under the Zuffa Boxing banner include high-profile names like Gervonta 'Tank' Davis, Jaron 'Boots' Ennis, and Ryan Garcia.
