Last week, Zuffa Boxing, the nascent promotion fronted by UFC honcho Dana White, made its most significant signing, inking British star Conor Benn to a one-fight deal. The move sent a shock wave through the U.K. boxing scene while triggering Matchroom Boxing’s top officials, who immediately branded Benn as disloyal. “Classless” was how Matchroom president Barry Hearn described Benn’s exit. Eddie Hearn, Matchroom’s chairman, said the decade he spent promoting Benn “feels a little bit like wasted years.”
Since debuting in January, Zuffa has moved quickly, signing more than 90 fighters to promotional contracts. Most of the roster is made up of journeymen, fighters who longtime trainer and manager Robert Garcia described as having been “rejected by the top promoters.” Zuffa’s first major signing was Jai Opetaia, a cruiserweight titleholder who will make his debut on Sunday. Benn, who is coming off a win over Chris Eubank Jr. last November, becomes the biggest name in the Zuffa stable.
