{"id":493463,"date":"2026-02-20T23:52:10","date_gmt":"2026-02-20T23:52:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/493463\/"},"modified":"2026-02-20T23:52:10","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T23:52:10","slug":"conor-benn-signs-with-zuffa-boxing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/493463\/","title":{"rendered":"Conor Benn signs with Zuffa Boxing"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content \u2014 and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven\u2019t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.<\/p>\n

Give a gift subscription<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to the podcast<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to the YouTube channel<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to DAZN’s Ultimate Plan<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy Barrios-Garcia PPV or get it FREE<\/a><\/p>\n

Leave a comment<\/a><\/p>\n

In something of shocker, British welterweight star Conor Benn has signed with Zuffa Boxing, they announced on Friday.<\/p>\n

The deal, however, is for one eight-figure fight that would take place in April or May in the United Kingdom, a source with knowledge of the agreement told Fight Freaks Unite.<\/p>\n

\u201cConor Benn is an absolute beast and a superstar,\u201d Zuffa Boxing promoter Dana Whit said. \u201cHe shows up every time and destroys people, and now some of the best fighters in the world are calling him out. He\u2019s ready for a world title next and I can\u2019t wait to see him compete in Zuffa Boxing. He\u2019s going to be a huge addition to a growing stable of very talented boxers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Benn becomes the second high-profile signing for upstart Zuffa Boxing, which recently signed lineal\/IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia. It also means that instead of his next fight being on DAZN it will be on Zuffa Boxing partner Paramount+ in the United States with a U.K. platform to be announced. <\/p>\n

Give a gift subscription<\/a><\/p>\n

It marks Benn\u2019s departure from career-long promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, one of the few people who stood by him through his suspension and long battle with British regulators over two positive tests for performance-enhancing drugs that caused his October 2022 fight with rival Chris Eubank Jr. to be canceled during fight week.<\/p>\n

\u201cFirst and foremost, I want to thank Eddie and the entire team at Matchroom for everything they\u2019ve done for me over the past decade,\u201d Benn said. \u201cFrom guiding me when I first turned pro, to headlining stadium shows. They were not only with me for those highlight moments but stood shoulder to shoulder with me during the tough times.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a journey beyond anything we could have imagined, and for their belief, support, and guidance, I will always be truly grateful, but Zuffa Boxing presented me with an opportunity I simply couldn\u2019t refuse. I\u2019d love Eddie to continue to be part of my team and for our partnership to evolve in this new chapter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Benn (24-1, 14 KOs), 29, had a memorable 2025, after being cleared by British regulators to be relicensed to fight at home following his PED case.<\/p>\n

On April 26, Benn, moving up to middleweight, and Eubank finally met and although Benn lost a unanimous decision it was the consensus fight of the year.<\/p>\n

It was a dramatic slugfest waged before announced sold-out crowd of 67,484 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London for a fight that continued the famed family rivalry that began with the two memorable early 1990s middleweight and super middleweight world title battles between their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, who will be inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in June.<\/p>\n

Eubank Jr. and Benn had a contract for an immediate rematch and they met again on Nov. 15, once again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and this time Benn dominated. He won a wide unanimous decision culminating when he knocked Eubank down in the 12th round.<\/p>\n

That was the final fight on Benn\u2019s contract with Matchroom Boxing.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m filled with excitement and hunger for what\u2019s ahead with Zuffa Boxing,\u201d Benn said. \u201cI want the legacy fights, the biggest nights, the biggest stages. I fear no man at any weight, and I\u2019m ready to give the fans the fights they\u2019ve been calling for. I\u2019m in my prime, and together we have bold, ambitious plans.\u201d<\/p>\n

I sincerely appreciate your readership. If you\u2019re reading, it means you love boxing just like I do. If you\u2019ve been reading you also know the quality and quantity of what I produce. It\u2019s one-stop shopping. Read the newsletters and there is no need to search multiple websites or click a multitude of links to get the latest news, opinion and detailed fight schedule. Everything you need is in one spot and delivered directly to your inbox (or via phone alert if you download for free the superb Substack app). You don\u2019t have to hunt for the news; it comes to you.<\/p>\n

I believe that is worth something, so while I will continue providing stories, notes and the schedule for free, I encourage you to upgrade to a paid subscription for the most content. A paid subscription is your way of keeping this reader-supported newsletter going and supporting independent journalism. I am beholden to no network, promoter, manager, sanctioning body or fighter. If you have read my work at all during the past 26 years I\u2019ve covered professional boxing you know that I keep it real and that will not change.<\/p>\n

To upgrade your subscription please go here:<\/p>\n

Thank you so much for your support of Fight Freaks Unite!<\/p>\n

Benn photo: Mark Robinson\/Matchroom Boxing<\/p>\n

Give a gift subscription<\/a><\/p>\n

Leave a comment<\/a><\/p>\n

Share Fight Freaks Unite <\/a><\/p>\n

Follow me on X\/Twitter<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow me on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow me on Bluesky<\/a><\/p>\n

Follow me on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to DAZN<\/a><\/p>\n

Check out Big Fight Weekend<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy Barrios-Garcia PPV or get it FREE<\/a><\/p>\n