Eddie Hearn reacts to Zuffa’s huge offer for a popular Matchroom fighter.
Eddie Hearn had a lot to say when asked about Zuffa Boxing’s big offer to sign one of Matchroom’s top fighters.
Since coming into the sport in June 2025, thanks to UFC CEO Dana White and Saudi boxing chief Turki Al-Sheikh, Zuffa Boxing has definitely made some waves. Their biggest move so far was signing Conor Benn, son of British boxing legend Nigel Benn, on a multi-year deal after he left Matchroom.
Since then, White and Hearn have been trading barbs on social media. In response, Hearn signed UFC heavyweight champ Tom Aspinall to his new talent agency. But it seems White and Zuffa aren’t stopping with just Benn—they’re now after one of Matchroom’s top heavyweight prospects, Johnny Fisher.
Fisher, who’s the son of social media star Big John Fisher, recently said that Zuffa offered him a deal worth six or seven times more than what Hearn offered after his last contract ended.
Now, Hearn has responded to these claims and shared his plans for keeping Fisher. Speaking to IFL TV, he said, “I love Johnny and his family. We had a straight-up talk, and my advice to him is ‘swim, walk, or crawl to the Zuffa office and sign that contract before they change their mind.’ I just can’t pay that much—Zuffa’s offer is way beyond what we could match.”
Hearn explained that the deal he offered includes two or three fights against opponents who’d usually be in the middle or co-main event spot at Matchroom shows—not the kind of fights that bring in huge crowds. While he’d love to keep Fisher, Hearn says he simply can’t compete with the money Zuffa is offering for that level of fights.
He added, “Those opponents are what we can offer—it’s a business, not a holiday camp. But Johnny can have easier fights for a lot more money. So, my advice is to sign the contract!”
Confirming Fisher’s claim, Hearn said, “It’s over six times more than what I’d pay for him to fight those opponents. Even if Zuffa offered half that money, we couldn’t match it. So, good luck to him—I’m happy for Johnny. I love him, and I’m not sure where his career will go.”
If Fisher agrees, he’ll join Benn as one of the biggest names to leave Matchroom for Zuffa recently. Despite this, Hearn isn’t worried or feeling threatened by the big money rival. He says he wouldn’t let his top fighters reach the end of their contracts if they were likely to leave.
“I mean no disrespect, but we don’t let big fighters get to the end of their deal without plans,” Hearn said.