Eddie Hearn has said he has been left “pretty devastated” by the news that Conor Benn has left Matchroom for new rivals Zuffa Boxing.

Hearn said he knew that Benn would be leaving a few days ago, having received an email from Benn’s lawyer.

Hearn said he then reached out to Benn, asking to talk, and Benn declined the offer.

What he did not decline was the offer from Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing, reportedly worth eight figures and for one fight.

Clearly crestfallen, Hearn said that having time to digest perhaps changed the mood of the interview.

“Maybe this interview is different to what it would have been a couple of days ago,” he exclusively told IFL TV.

Hearn held himself accountable for Benn’s switch, adding: “I forgot it was boxing.”

The promoter added: “I felt that the loyalty that we’ve shown would never ever put us in this position, and I just felt that I never really needed to push Conor Benn to sign a new contract previously, and I probably could have got him to sign a new contract previously. “

Hearn said he “made a mistake” and “misjudged the character.”

Subsequently they’ve exchanged texts.

Hearn promoted Benn from his debut in 2016 right the way through to his rematch victory over Chris Eubank Jnr in November at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Benn becoming a millionaire along the way.

More pertinently, perhaps, was Hearn fought tooth and nail by Benn’s side for the two-year period when many in the sport turned on Benn after he twice failed tests for clomiphene ahead of the originally slated date to fight Eubank in 2022. 

Benn leaves having also been guided to the No. 1 spot at 147lbs by the WBC, a weight he’s not boxed at for several years.

Hearn said he had shown Benn loyalty and support.

“[You] live and learn. I don’t know what to say, really,” Hearn continued.

“Everyone’s different but boxing is boxing. [It] Feels like a bit of a wasted few years, because, you know how hard I fought [with the PED scenario].”

Hearn said he’d also exchanged some “choice words” with Benn’s manager, Keith Connolly, and said “the way it was done was very wrong.”

“There’s a lot I could say, but I’ll keep it classy… Some people, loyalty really matters. Other people, maybe not so… This is going to be a long war. I blame myself. I got the character wrong. I took the loyalty for granted because of what I did. And I’ve made that mistake before in boxing, I just didn’t expect that from Conor Benn.”

IFL’s Kugan Cassius then asked Hearn whether Benn was the company’s No. 2 star in boxing behind Anthony Joshua, but Hearn bristled at that.

“Joshua, you can’t mention those two in the same name for many reasons. Joshua is a different breed of class and loyalty. Joshua is one of a kind,” said Hearn.

In Benn's statement, he said he hoped Hearn would "continue to be part of his team."

Hearn said it was too early to tell what he would do with regards to Benn in the future, if anything.