Frank Warren has criticised Conor Benn’s reported $15 million agreement with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, claiming the welterweight is “not even the best at his weight in Essex” following his split from long-time promoter Eddie Hearn.
Benn ended his 10-year association with Hearn last week before signing a one-fight deal with White’s Zuffa Boxing promotion. The 29-year-old is expected to debut under the UFC CEO’s banner in the UK this spring, a move that has drawn attention across the sport given the abrupt nature of his departure.
Warren, who is currently seeking damages of $1 billion from Zuffa’s parent company TKO, questioned the financial logic behind the deal. “I’ll tell you something, the sums of monies that’s being paid… I don’t see what the investment that type of investment is doing,” said Warren. “He’s not even even the best at his weight in Essex.”
Despite his criticism, Warren added: “But good luck to him, good luck to him and he’s getting a few quid and it is what it is. For me, I would find definitely better places to spend my money on, or better fighters to spend my money on. I don’t see that investment, but maybe I’m getting older and they know better than I do.”
Hearn has publicly expressed his anger at Benn’s decision to leave without prior discussion, and Warren revealed he had contacted his former rival after the news broke. “I actually sent him a little note. I said… I’m not going to say what I sent in a note, but I sent him a little note, sent him a text,” said Warren. “It reminded me when I got shot years ago and there was a fighter who said, ‘I wish I was there. I would’ve took a bullet for you and all that s***’.
“I’m in the hospital and a month later he went over and signed with Barry Hearn. I remember sending him a message saying, ‘Where were you when I needed you to take that bullet? I don’t know how it will end.”
Benn’s debut under the Zuffa Boxing banner is expected to take place in the coming months, although an opponent and venue have yet to be formally announced. The move represents White’s latest foray into professional boxing as he looks to expand his influence in the sport.
