Conor Benn and manager explain why they took Zuffa deal

Conor Benn adamant he did what was best for his family because no one will care about him when he's retired

Ahead of his world title shot this weekend, Conor Benn and his manager Keith Connolly have defended their decision to leave long-term promoter Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing outfit for new company Zuffa Boxing, headed by UFC's Dana White.

Conor Benn’s manager Keith Connolly breaks down why signing with Zuffa Boxing over staying with Matchroom was a no-brainer: “I don’t know what people expected me to do. Should I convince my guy to take 20 or 30% of the money to re-sign with somebody? If it's Conor Benn and Eddie Hearn or if it's another fighter with Top Rank or PBC... I'm not going to do that.

“If my guy has life-changing money [on offer], I am going to do what the best possible thing to do for my fighter. And you're gonna' piss people off. And maybe that's the difference between me and a lot of managers. A lot of managers are cosy with promoters. I like to be friendly with promoters.

“If anybody thinks I’m going to make the wrong decision for my fighter to keep my standing or friendship with a promoter, they’ve got it dead wrong. I'm not gonna do that, I'm always going to do what's best for my fighter, and I love what I do and I'm going to continue to do it.”

Conor Benn on the Zuffa deal

“It is what it is. It’s business. You know, and that’s that. I’ve made the best decision for me and my family,” Benn began.

“You think in 10-15 years’ time when there’s a new Conor Benn, I’ll be lucky to get a ringside seat. You know, you see it with so many fighters who just made the wrong decisions and made the wrong choices. You know, for me, I never wanted to be that fighter.

“You know, if I wanted to go out, I’d go out on my terms, you know, and my faculties intact. And my kids’ health and my kids’ future set up for life. My kids are set. My kids are set for life, you know. My wife’s set for life. You know, so I’ve done my job as a provider.

“Every decision I make in my career is going to benefit my family, because when you have a family, that’s all that matters, is that every decision I make is for the benefit of my kids, not a grown man who I may upset his mood. Or, you know, a company that is going to keep going when I’m done and retired.

“‘Cause who’s going to care about Conor Benn when I’m done? My kids. Who’s going to care about me? You think I’m going to be getting a phone call going, ‘Ah, Conor, here’s a hundred grand. Just put your kids through private school for the next three years.’ No! Hell no! That’s my job! And it falls on me to provide for my gang. And that’s what I’m going to do, and that’s what I’ve done.”