Eddie Hearn Doubles Down on Conor Benn Loan Claim With Details

In a recent conversation with former soccer star and pundit Gary Neville, Conor Benn rebuked claims that he was lent £500,000 by Eddie Hearn to cover legal fees.

Previously, the Matchroom Boxing promoter stated that he gave 'The Destroyer' the money when he faced financial issues as a result of a failed drug test in 2022.

The pair have been the center of huge attention in recent months following the end of their collaboration, as Benn has signed with Dana White's Zuffa Boxing. Now, further fuel has been added to the fire thanks to disputes over the alleged loan.

After being questioned on the denial from Benn, Hearn told the story of the loan.

Eddie Hearn explains details of Conor Benn loan

In a recent interview with IFL TV, Hearn was asked to provide clarity on the situation regarding him supposedly loaning Benn £500,000 a number of years ago. Hearn stated his explanation.

"I hate doing this because I don't want to make him look even worse than the situation is. But I have to give you the facts."
Eddie Hearn

Prior to his account of the story, Hearn sought to provide context for his ambitions with all of his fighters, stating that he wanted to give them financial security.

The Matchroom Boxing promoter then told a story in which Benn expressed a desire to purchase a home but said he 'couldn't afford' it and asked Hearn to lend him the money. Hearn then confirmed that he gave Benn a loan of £250,000, plus VAT, in order to purchase the house.

"Not in advance of a purse. I will lend you [Benn] the money because I know you're my guy."
Eddie Hearn

"I probably shouldn't have done it," Hearn said in retrospect.

Benn paid the £250,000 loan back within a couple of months, Hearn added.

Ahead of the scheduled Chris Eubank fight in October 2022, Hearn said that Benn asked him for a loan of £300,000 to purchase a Rolls-Royce. The promoter said he would loan him the money as an advance on his purse for the upcoming Eubank fight.

"Conor Benn fails his drug test [for Eubank bout], twice. The fight gets canceled. We lost a million quid in costs because the fight was pulled on the week, and Conor Benn owed us £300,000."
Eddie Hearn

Six months after the fight with Eubank fell through, Hearn approached Benn about the loaned money. Benn responded, according to Hearn, by saying, 'I've got all my legal bills... I've got no money'.

Hearn said that he told Benn to 'keep the money' and to 'pay it back when you're in the position to'.

Following the eventual fight between Eubank and Benn in February 2025, Hearn said he received his £300,000 from Benn. "No interest. By the way, that cost me £50,000. No problem at all."

After he heard the recent claims from Benn that he was 'never lent a cent', Hearn said that he contacted the fighter's manager, who was involved in the dealings of the loan. According to Hearn, the response was that Benn did not use the loaned money directly for his legal fees.

Benn's exact quote from his conversation with Neville was: "No one paid my legal bills. He [Hearn] didn't lend me a cent. I paid the legal bills, 100% myself."

"Don't sit there and say I never lent you any money," Hearn said.

"I lent you £550,000. One to buy a house, and two because you were in trouble and I never called it in. And, I gave you three years to pay the money back, until you were in a position to do so."
Eddie Hearn

He added, "I went above and beyond for you... I never, ever stopped having your back through that whole time, since you were 18 years old. So don't sit there and lie."