Conor Benn’s decision to join Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing will have “really hurt” promoter Eddie Hearn but it’s a “business move”, says Sky Sports expert Johnny Nelson.
The 29-year-old had been promoted by Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing organisation since turning professional, but after a 10-year spell, Benn left to sign with UFC boss White’s promotional company.
Benn and Hearn’s partnership had enjoyed its biggest success in November as ‘The Destroyer’ defeated Chris Eubank Jr in a rematch to continue his resurgence after being cleared by UK Anti-Doping to resume his career following failed drug tests in 2022.
Reacting to the Benn-Hearn split, Nelson told Sky Sports News: “It’s show business.
“I thought Conor and AJ [Anthony Joshua] were the ones that Eddie had a more personal relationship, more than his fighters.
“He [Hearn] will be really hurt because he thought they were friends. And Conor has done what most fighters should do, which is take care of themselves.
“I know a lot of fighters that were household names, that haven’t got two pennies because of decisions they made in their career, because of times when they should have moved on and made a better decision in their life, but they didn’t. So this what Conor has done. He’s done a business move.
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After comprehensively beating Chris Eubank Jr in their rematch, Benn claimed he ‘took his soul’
“I saw an interview and Eddie said: ‘I sent him a message saying, I think we should talk.’ And Conor said no. I can understand why Conor didn’t speak to him, because it would have been very hard to actually stick to his decision. Conor has said, ‘I’m doing it for my family. I’m taking care of me’.
“Say if Conor Benn boxed his next fight, and he didn’t take this deal, he stayed with Eddie, and maybe he got two or three million, and he lost. Then, then all of a sudden, his career starts to go downhill. But he’s been offered $15m for his next fight. I totally get it.
“If he should be at that level, then he’ll stay at that level and make a lot more money. If he’s not at that level, he swam the channel, he’s done well.
“He’s got paid handsomely at a level that he probably would never have got to – and he’s alright, he’s sorted.”
Benn has just one defeat on his professional boxing record from 25 fights (Cover Images via AP Images)
Nelson: Mayweather, Pacquiao still think they have ‘got it’
In a busy recent news period for boxing, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao announced they have agreed a professional rematch in September in Las Vegas.
The bout will take place over 11 years on from their ‘Fight of the Century’ in 2015 which Mayweather won by unanimous decision.
Nelson said: “I remember when they first boxed each other in 2015. They were already past their best then.
“But the attention, the noise that came around it, it’s still the highest grossing fight in boxing, Now they’re trying to turn back time. They’re hoping the interest will still be there. It can’t be better than 2015, but still, the intrigue will always get your attention.
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Johnny Nelson reacts to the announcement that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are set to renew their rivalry in a rematch in Las Vegas this September
“If it’s going on Netflix in Las Vegas, they know there’s an appetite for it, but it’s not just that. It’s the fact that Floyd is actually saying, ‘I want to come back to have a carry on with a professional career at this stage in my life’. And it’s the drug, it’s the bug. That’s what boxing does.
“These fighters think they’ve still got this, and unfortunately, he may end up being one of the fighters where the fight quits him rather than quitting the fight.”
Mayweather and Pacquiao’s first fight took place at welterweight and the details of their rematch are yet to be confirmed which Nelson is intrigued by.
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Sky Sports Boxing pundit Andy Scott looks at the pros and cons of the scheduled rematch between boxing greats Mayweather and Pacquiao
“How many rounds is it? What size? What weight will it be? On the surface, this is a fight though,” he said.
“Pacquiao drew with Mario Barrios, who lost to Ryan Garcia at the weekend, last year. So Pacquiao has proved that he’s still a force to be reckoned with. Regardless of his age, Pacquiao is still that fighter that’s saying, ‘I’m going to make that move’.
“Again, he has aged as well. He is not the fighter he was, but he still showed against Barrios, a massive welterweight, gave him a run for his money and got a draw for the WBC title. This is the real deal.”
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