Eddie Hearn conceded earlier this year that his “mistake” led to boxing commodity Conor Benn leaving Matchroom for upstart fight firm Zuffa Boxing.
The one-fight, $15 million signing sent shockwaves through combat sport, not least because it ensured the Dana White fronted organization secured a box office signing, but that it took that athlete away from the promoter who had risked his own reputation by advocating for Benn during a drug test scandal that saw him test positive for the banned substance clomifene. Benn protested innocence throughout the ordeal.
“It’s not often you get shocked,” Hearn said to iFL TV in a report Boxing Social published at the time. “I blame myself because … I just forgot it was boxing.
“I never felt we needed to push Conor Benn to sign a new contract previously, and I probably could have gotten him to sign.”
“I made a mistake because I misjudged the character.”
And so, had it not been for allowing Benn’s contract to effectively expire, then the fighter may have remained with Matchroom for the time being. But the way it played out, Matchroom’s loss was Zuffa’s gain, and the British slugger now fights Regis Prograis in the co-feature for Tyson Fury’s April 11 return to the ring against Arslanbek Makhmudov on Netflix.
It seems Hearn and Matchroom are refusing to allow the same mistake from happening again.
This week alone we’ve heard instances of the global promoter tying three of its talents to extended deals — from a ticket-seller like Dave Allen, to regional champion George Liddard, and fast-rising prospect Giorgio Visioli.
“I am delighted to have signed a new, long-term deal with Matchroom,” said 23-year-old Liddard, a British and Commonwealth champion in the middleweight division. “Look at where they have got me in my career so far.”
“I am thrilled to sign a new, long-term deal with Matchroom Boxing,” Visioli said, too, in an announcement Matchroom sent Boxing Social, to confirm both fighters had signed “new, long-term contract extension.”
Hearn and Matchroom executives may not say it outright previous gentlemen’s agreements, which aren’t uncommon in the sport from what Boxing Social has heard, are perhaps lacking when it comes to thwarting the movements of Zuffa — the Las Vegas-based fight firm that is spending big, and signing talent, as it looks to create its own growth story.
All Hearn can do is ensure that growth story doesn’t come at a cost of Matchroom’s own — and that, likely, means ensuring all fighter contracts are up to date.
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