Eddie Hearn believes his former charge Conor Benn should get some credit for getting as far as a world title shot even though he was outclassed by Ryan Garcia on Saturday night.
Hearn guided Benn through the early years of his professional career, stuck by him when two failed PED tests threatened his future, and the promoter also orchestrated two money-spinning stadium showdowns with Chris Eubank Jnr last year.
It was a surprise, then, when Benn opted to sign with Zuffa Boxing earlier this year.
Benn’s form with his new promoters hasn’t been impressive. A lacklustre 10-round points win over Regis Prograis in April was followed by the two-round loss to WBC welterweight champion Garcia in Las Vegas.
“I’ve been around Conor Benn his whole career and know him pretty well, and I just felt he looked lost,” Hearn told IFL TV.
“Maybe it was the weight. I don’t know if it was his confidence, but he looked lost. In the ring he looked all over the place, jumping around, diving in, and he looked like a rabbit in the headlights.”
Though he went 1-1 with the aging Eubank up at 160lbs, it was Benn’s first fight against an elite opponent who was at the peak of their powers.
Plenty have said his ability at that level, or lack of, has now been exposed.
“I’ve got more reasons than most to throw him to the wolves, but I don’t think there is any need to, look at what he’s done,” Hearn reasoned.
“People will get on his back now and say ‘he’s useless, he couldn’t win a British title, who has he ever beat?’ They might be right but he’s done it.
“I’m not going to sit here now and say he was never any good, because I do think he’s a good fighter and I think he has improved so much, so he deserves a lot of credit for how hard he’s worked to get into that position.”
Even so, Hearn is not convinced that Benn will be in the sport for much longer.
“Listen, Conor Benn will be done in the next year or so. He may have one more fight, who knows. He may not even fight again.
“I think he wants his money, and he’s made a load of money; what else is there?
“He’s not gonna beat anyone of any significance at 160lbs, so what are you in the game for?”
