Conor Benn Not ‘World Class,’ Admits Eddie Hearn

Eddie Hearn has been a major supporter of Conor Benn (25-2, 14 KOs), a fighter whom he promoted for a considerable amount of time. But with his recent loss against Ryan Garcia (26-2, 21 KOs), Hearn just isn’t as sure anymore.

Talking to iFL TV, Hearn admitted that Benn didn’t seem like himself on fight night.

“My last few predictions were that I thought Ryan Garcia would win inside three rounds. Remember, I’ve been around Conor Benn his whole career. I know him pretty well and I just felt that he looked lost. I don’t know. Didn’t really look like himself,” he said.

Hearn promoted Benn for almost a decade, from the moment he turned professional in 2016 until his split with Matchroom in February 2026. He had been central to Benn’s development, backing him through the difficult period surrounding his failed drug tests and later building his profile through the two major Chris Eubank Jr. fights.

That long relationship makes Hearn’s latest assessment particularly telling. After Benn was stopped by Garcia in just two rounds in his first world-title challenge, Hearn said he now believes he is a good fighter but not world-class, and doubts he can win a world title, particularly at welterweight.

“Listen, obviously I’m extremely conflicted. My job is to hype up a fighter and position him into big fights, and I’m not going to sit here now and say, ‘He was never any good. And I never really believed in him,’ because I do think Conor Benn is a good fighter and I think that he has also improved so much. He deserves a lot of credit,” he said. “Now is he world class? I think what we’ve found it is no he’s not, but it doesn’t mean he’s not a good fighter. It doesn’t mean he’s southern area title-level.”

“School’s Never Out”

Benn, however, is certain that this is merely a tiny hiccup in a career meant for the world stage. In a recent Instagram story, he was seen back in the grind, barely days after his fight.

“School’s never out. Straight to work. Yeah, boy,” he said.

Hearn might have lost faith in him, but Benn surely isn’t letting anything hold him back.

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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