Benn later explained that he chose not to pick up the phone when emotions ran high. “I didn’t choose not to talk to him, I didn’t want to go into the details of it,” said Benn speaking to Boxing King Media about Hearn. “I think things were very tense in the teams, and knowing how I am as an individual, would this call be beneficial? Would this call be good for us? And I don’t think it would be.”
His explanation revealed that the silence was deliberate rather than destructive. Benn added that when anger cools down, he reaches out directly. “When the dust settled and it was quiet I sent Eddie a message saying, ‘I love you my friend, and you know, it’s not the end of the road, you know, the journey continues’.”
Those words complicate the first view of the agreement as a clean break. Reports earlier in the week indicated that Benn’s deal with Zuffa could end in a one-fight deal worth $15 million. If accurate, the structure leaves room for Benn to return to the Matchroom once that commitment is fulfilled, especially if the terms of a trade suit both sides.
The ongoing feud between Hearn and Dana White has been in the open for months, and Benn’s decision has put him in the middle of that feud. He agreed that both sides could have handled the situation better privately. “When things get heated, I’ve said things in the past that you regret saying,” Benn said. “Why are you talking in the midst of pain, ego, pride, anger? Nothing good comes of it. I think we both could handle it better in private.”
That voice is remarkably conciliatory to someone who had just discovered a lucrative new program. It also shows that Benn understands the long-term value of maintaining working relationships in a sport where promotional alliances often change from time to time.
His focus now turns to his debut under the Zuffa banner. Benn recently called out Ryan Garcia following Garcia’s WBC welterweight title win, urging him to “keep the belt warm.” That desire presents another problem, given that Zuffa has indicated that he will not see organizations punishing him in the traditional way. Any fight involving the WBC title holder would therefore require a stipulation that is not currently under Zuffa’s stated title.
For Benn, the appeal of a top-level fight in the United States is obvious, especially against an opponent with Garcia’s profile. However, his comments about Hearn show that he is careful not to close doors at home while pursuing that opportunity abroad. The message is measured instead of defiant, and that distinction is important in a game where social failure can be permanent.
Matchroom has invested heavily in Benn’s career, guiding him from domestic rival to international attraction. Even though this chapter includes a temporary split, Benn seems determined to avoid turning it into a public feud that limits his options later.
The initial shock of Zuffa’s signing suggested a major change in loyalty. Benn’s words, however, paint a more realistic picture of a fighter taking a short-term opportunity without burning long-term bridges. That approach may not satisfy all the promoters involved, but it shows a boxer thinking about the business as a competition, and that’s rarely an accident.
