Tony Bellew has shared his reaction to the shock news that Conor Benn has left Eddie Hearn and Matchroom to sign with Dana White and Zuffa Boxing.
The boxing public were stunned on Friday evening when it was announced that Benn had joined forces with Zuffa, ending his relationship with Hearn that dates back to his professional debut a decade ago.
Bellew is one fighter who has often pledged his support to Matchroom after spending the final years of his career working with Hearn, and whilst speaking to IFL TV, he discussed his stance on Benn’s decision.
“This is boxing. What can I possibly say. When I first saw it last night I thought am I really shocked? In this day and age, no. A part of me is disappointed but it’s when you expect from others what you would expect of yourself, you will always be left disappointed.
“So don’t do it. Don’t expect from others what you’d expect from yourself because every single time I promise you’ll be let down. Let that be a lesson.”
Hearn has since revealed that he attempted to reach out to Benn to discuss the move, and the offer of a phone call was rejected, and Bellew explained why he thinks it transpired that way.
“You know why he [Benn] hasn’t called him, because he can’t stomach to speak to him. That’s why he hasn’t spoken to him. Conor’s a strong willed boy, to get through what he’s been through he has to be, but he hasn’t picked the phone up because he hasn’t got the stomach to.
“He knows there are no words to make this right. This is a man who he has spent years on the phone, why can’t he have another conversation with him? You’ve had thousands over the last couple of years. Why can’t you do that now?”
Another man who hasn’t taken long to react to the news is Benn’s old foe Chris Eubank Jr, who has had plenty to say about the stunning move.
