One month on from Conor Benn’s shock switch, Eddie Hearn has revealed what he plans to tell his former fighter, should they come face to face at his Zuffa Boxing debut next month.
Hearn had promoted Benn ever since his professional debut, famously standing by his side despite a failed drugs test when initially scheduled to take on Chris Eubank Jr in 2022.
As a result, when Benn turned his back on Hearn and Matchroom Boxing and moved to rival promotional firm Zuffa Boxing, the boxing world watched on with amazement and shock, as Benn became one of the marquee signings for Dana White’s new outfit.
Next month, Benn will debut with Zuffa as he takes on two-time super-lightweight world champion Regis Prograis in a lucrative catchweight contest on the Tyson Fury vs Arslanbek Makhmudov undercard at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
There, Hearn will be expected to be in attendance, given that he represents Australian heavyweight Justis Huni, who fights Frazer Clarke on the same bill.
In an interview with Gunman Boxing, Hearn opened up on the situation between he and Benn and revealed what he will tell the 29-year-old if they cross paths on fight night.
“I am actually [still annoyed about it]. I have calmed down a lot, but when I first got the news, I was upset. Normally with me, after a little bit, I just go ‘you know what, [it is what it is]’, but it is actually aggravating me more and more, to the point where I am not upset anymore, I am actually quite angry.
“When I sit back and actually think about it, I have to be careful with what I say, but I actually think ‘you dog’, that is what I think. Whereas, before, I was a bit upset, I was a bit emotional.
“I will probably be at his fight, because we have Justis Huni fighting [on the card], maybe I will go with AJ to watch. I actually thought that if I see him [Benn] I will have to let him know, not in a confrontational way but I will have to tell him because I have got to get it off my chest.
“I will probably say, ‘you are a dog, mate’, probably that.”
The Fury-Makhmudov card takes place on Saturday, April 11, and will be available to watch live on Netflix.
