Sky Sports expert Jonny Nelson says Conor Benn’s decision to join Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing will “really hurt” promoter Eddie Hearn, but it is a “business move”.
Benn, 29, has been promoted by Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing organization since turning professional, but left after 10 years to sign with UFC boss White’s promotion company.
Ben and Hearn’s partnership had its greatest success in November, when ‘The Destroyer’ defeated Chris Eubank Jr. in a rematch to continue his comeback after being cleared by UK Anti-Doping to resume his career following a failed drug test in 2022.
Regarding Ben and Hearn’s split, Nelson told Sky Sports News: “This is show business.
“I thought Conor and AJ (Anthony Joshua) were the guys that Eddie had a more personal relationship with than the fighters.
“It’s going to really hurt because he (Hearn) considered them friends. And Conor did what most fighters should do, which is take care of himself.
“I know a lot of famous fighters who never got two pennies back because of the decisions they made in their careers, because they should have moved on in life and made better decisions and they didn’t. So this is what Conor did. He made a business move.”
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Ben claimed he had his ‘soul taken’ after soundly defeating Chris Eubank Jr. in rematch
“If you watch the interview, Eddie says, ‘I sent him a message, I think we should talk,’ and Connor said no. I understand why Connor didn’t tell him, because it would have been very difficult for him to actually follow through on his decision. “I’m doing it for my family,” Connor said. Thank you for your help. ”
“If Conor Benn boxes the next fight and he doesn’t accept this contract, he stays with Eddie and gets maybe two or three million and loses. Then all of a sudden his career starts going downhill. But he’s being offered $15 million for his next fight. I completely understand.”
“If he’s supposed to be at that level, he’ll stay at that level and make more money. If he’s not at that level, he swam the Channel, he did well.”
“He’s getting paid pretty well at a level he probably never would have. And he’s fine, he’s fine now.”
Ben’s professional boxing record is just one loss in 25 fights (Cover image via AP Images)
Nelson: Mayweather and Pacquiao still think they’ve ‘got it’
Amidst the recent news in the boxing world, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have announced that they have agreed to a professional rematch in Las Vegas in September.
The bout will be held for the first time in 11 years since Mayweather won by unanimous decision in 2015 in the “Fight of the Century.”
“I remember the first time we boxed each other in 2015, and at that time they were already beyond their best,” Nelson said.
“But the attention and the noise, it’s still the highest-grossing bout in boxing. Now they’re trying to turn back the clock. They’re hoping the interest is still there. It’s not going to be better than it was in 2015, but the intrigue is always going to get attention.”
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Johnny Nelson reacts to the announcement that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are set to rematch in Las Vegas this September
“If it’s going to be on Netflix in Las Vegas, I know there’s a demand for it, but it’s not just about that. The fact is that Floyd is saying, ‘At this stage in my life, I want to come back to continue my professional career.’ And that’s the drug, that’s the bug. That’s what boxing is for.”
“These fighters think they still have this. And unfortunately, he might be one of those fighters who quits fighting instead of quitting.”
The first fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao took place at welterweight, but details of the rematch have not yet been released, and Nelson has expressed interest.
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Sky Sports’ boxing pundit Andy Scott considers the pros and cons of the planned rematch between boxing greats Mayweather and Pacquiao.
“How many shots? How big? How much will they weigh? On the surface, this is a fight,” he said.
“Pacquiao drew last year with Mario Barrios, who lost to Ryan Garcia over the weekend. So Pacquiao proved he’s still a force to be reckoned with. Regardless of his age, Pacquiao is still a fighter who says, ‘I’m going to make that move.’
“Again, he’s gotten older, too. He’s not the fighter he once was, but he still showed against Barrios, a big welterweight, and gave him the points and earned him a draw on his way to winning the WBC title. This is the real deal.”
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