Eddie Hearn Launches Fierce Counterattack on Conor Benn
Eddie Hearn has unleashed a blistering response following Conor Benn's denial of ever borrowing money from the boxing promoter, escalating a war of words that has captivated the sport.
The Background of the Dispute
The conflict erupted after Benn stunned the boxing world in February by splitting from Hearn and signing a lucrative one-fight, $15 million deal with UFC CEO Dana White's Zuffa Boxing promotion. Benn is scheduled to make his debut for the organisation next weekend against Regis Prograis on the undercard of Tyson Fury's comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
In the aftermath, Hearn claimed he had loaned Benn over £500,000 following the fighter's failed drug test in 2022, which led to the last-minute cancellation of his clash with Chris Eubank Jr. While Hearn acknowledged that Benn had repaid the money, the boxer has vehemently denied ever accepting financial assistance from the promoter.
Hearn's Detailed Allegations
In a recent interview with iFL TV, Hearn provided a detailed account of two specific instances where he alleges he lent money to Benn. The first involved a £250,000 loan to purchase a house, which Hearn described as a gesture of support. "He said, 'Would you lend me the money?' I was like, 'What we talking'?' He says, 'Quarter of a million,'" Hearn recounted, noting that Benn repaid the sum after fighting three or four months later.
The second loan, according to Hearn, was a £300,000 advance for Benn to buy a Rolls-Royce, agreed upon as an advance on his purse for the cancelled Eubank Jr fight in 2022. Hearn suggested that Benn might have sold the luxury vehicle to cover legal bills after the drug test scandal.
Benn's Denial and Hearn's Rebuttal
Benn had previously stated in an interview with The Overlap, "No one paid my legal bills. He [Hearn] didn't lend me a cent, I paid the legal bills myself." In response, Hearn expressed disbelief, saying, "Right now, I’m watching this stuff, thinking, 'I just actually think you might be a compulsive liar.'" He emphasised that the £300,000 was eventually repaid three years later, following Benn's first meeting with Eubank Jr at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
This public feud highlights ongoing tensions in the boxing world, with both figures standing firm on their versions of events. As Benn prepares for his upcoming fight, the controversy adds an extra layer of drama to his career trajectory.
