THE ZUFFA ERA: DANA WHITE'S $15M CONOR BENN DEAL SHAKES THE BOXING WORLD'S FOUNDATION
Big money move: Discover why Conor Benn left Matchroom for a $15M Zuffa deal to fight Regis Prograis at Tottenham Stadium.
Conor Benn is set to face Regis Prograis as the main undercard for Tyson Fury’s fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Ben just left Matchroom Boxing and Eddie Hearn behind, signing instead with Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing. The deal? A jaw-dropping $15 million for just one fight. Everyone figured this meant Benn would finally make his American debut, but, surprise, his first fight with Zuffa will actually be in the UK.
So, “The Destroyer” is stepping into the ring with former WBA super-lightweight champ Regis Prograis, all as part of the Fury vs. Makhmudov card at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11. This fight’s basically the co-main event, right before Fury’s big heavyweight return.
Benn can’t wait. “April 11th can’t come soon enough,” he said. “Going back to Tottenham, where I made history against Eubank Jr, means everything to me. My last fight there showed the world exactly who I am. Biggest stages, biggest shows. I fear no one. I’m locked in. Ready to make another statement.”
White’s Zuffa Boxing is running the show, teaming up with Ring Magazine to promote the event.
Prograis is just as fired up. “Last time I fought in London, Conor Benn was on my undercard. Now here we are, full circle. But this time, I’m teaching him a lesson. He’s not facing some weight-drained super middleweight. I’m in shape, and I’m winning this one.”
Why are Benn and Prograis fighting at all? It’s caught plenty of people off guard, since Benn seemed to be aiming for a WBC 147 lbs title shot. He was supposed to be pushing for a fight with Ryan Garcia, who just became champion, or maybe even a huge showdown with Shakur Stevenson, one of boxing’s best right now.
Instead, Prograis got the nod. He’s moving up to 147 lbs. Last time he fought in the UK, he lost to Jack Catterall in 2024, but bounced back with a win over Jojo Diaz. Benn heads into this fight with a ton of momentum after knocking out Chris Eubank Jr in their grudge match last November. Plus, this new TKO/Saudi deal is paying him big.
As for Benn’s split from Eddie Hearn? It’s all about money. Hearn, who stood by Benn through the mess of his failed drug test, found out Benn was leaving via text. He saw it as a slap in the face, but Benn says the offer was just too good to turn down. He’s not ruling out working with Matchroom again someday, but for now, Dana White’s calling the shots as Benn steps back into the spotlight under Fury’s comeback.
ANTHONY JOSHUA REJECTS POST-FIGHT RING FACE-OFF DESPITE FURY’S DECISIVE WIN OVER MAKHMUDOV
Eddie Hearn explains Anthony Joshua’s ring snub. Is the Fury vs AJ fight actually signed for this autumn?
Eddie Hearn laid it out pretty clearly: Anthony Joshua stayed out of the ring Saturday night and didn’t square off with Tyson Fury, even though Fury and Turki Alalshikh were both pushing hard for that dramatic moment to sell their big all-British fight for later this year.
Tyson Fury came back for yet another post-retirement bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, picking up a decisive win over Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov. It wasn’t much of a contest, really. Fury dominated, collected a unanimous decision, and then instantly shifted his attention to Anthony Joshua sitting at ringside. At one point, Joshua even whipped out his phone to record the fight.
Naturally, Fury grabbed the mic and did what he does best: he hyped up the idea of fighting Joshua next, telling the crowd (and Joshua himself) that this was the battle fans have been waiting for. He even called AJ into the ring on the spot.
But Joshua didn’t bite. He stayed put, calmly telling the crowd he’s ready to fight Fury and has been chasing it for a decade. No drama. No face-off.
Later, Fury and his camp went public. They said their side had signed the contracts weeks ago and put the blame for the holdup squarely on Joshua.
“We brought him here tonight to make this fight a done deal,” Fury said. “I’ve already signed. No idea if he has.”
Netflix, broadcasting the fight, amped things up even more by teasing that the huge British showdown would happen this autumn. But Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, pushed the decision back onto Joshua. “The only one who can confirm it is AJ,” he said. “It’s one man holding things up.”
Fury himself doubled down: “If it isn’t Anthony Joshua next, I’m done with boxing. It’s him, or I’m gone.”
On the other side, Joshua’s team fired back against any claims that AJ was running from the fight. Eddie Hearn, his promoter, explained why Joshua didn’t step into the ring: “He’s not interested in the theatrics if there’s no deal done. How many times has this fight supposedly been on? Years go by, nothing happens. Until something’s signed, it’s all just talk. AJ knows it’s Fury who really needs this, and he’ll fight him. We’re confident it happens, but right now, nothing is signed.”
And as for the talk about Joshua being scared? Hearn shut that down: “Scared of what, of that? Even Fury’s own fans feel the energy is different now. We don’t see anything other than an AJ win.”
"I WON'T BE THERE"—JOHN FURY BOYCOTTS TYSON'S TOTTENHAM HOMECOMING AGAINST MAKHMUDOV
John Fury confirms he will not attend Tyson Fury’s comeback against Makhmudov. Read why the father-son bond is "destroyed."
John Fury has already made up his mind: he won't be at his son Tyson's big comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
It’s only been 15 months since Tyson Fury said he was done with boxing, but here he is, coming out of retirement for the fifth time. On Saturday night, he’ll step into the ring at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to take on Russia’s Makhmudov in a heavyweight clash.
Everyone’s talking about what comes next. If Fury wins, there’s buzz about finally seeing him face Anthony Joshua later this year. A rematch with Oleksandr Usyk is also floating around.
Fury says the reason for his return is personal. After a car crash killed some of Joshua’s friends last December, he says it hit him that life’s too short. He wants to live every day like it’s his last.
But not everyone’s on board, especially his dad, John. Out of everyone in Fury’s circle, John’s been the loudest in saying he doesn't want to see his son back in the ring. People have wondered if he’d even show up to the fight.
Turns out, he won’t. Mail Sport reported John won’t be at the event and is still flat-out against Tyson’s comeback, even though he did show up at the press conference back in February.
This isn’t coming out of nowhere. Just a few weeks ago, John admitted his relationship with Tyson had been badly damaged by this return to boxing.
"My relationship with Tyson is destroyed," he told Playbook Boxing. "Boxing destroyed it completely. I'll say it on camera: I've never taken £10 off him in my life and I never will.
"I don't want Tyson's money, and I don't need Tyson's money. Whatever he's got, good luck to him. But don’t forget who built his story when he was a kid. He didn't build it himself, did he? Me, his father.
"I was 30 seconds away from asking for a break there. I haven't really expressed these emotions before, but they're strong, and they're there.
"I think he's past his best. I'm a no-filter kind of guy. I say it how I see it. I love him, but there are too many people patting him on the back and telling him things that aren't true, building him up like he's invincible. He's not, and he hasn't been for a while."
John isn’t the only one who feels this way. Tyson’s wife, Paris and his brother Tommy have also spoken up about wanting him to stay retired.
"If you asked any one of his family if we want to see him keep boxing, the answer would be a big ‘no’ from all of us," Tommy said to Bloody Elbow. "That’s everyone, because we care about his health."
