The ongoing dispute surrounding a potential Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn showdown has reportedly taken another dramatic turn.
According to Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, Dana White and Zuffa Boxing have now received legal warnings from multiple parties while attempting to move forward with discussions for a Garcia-Benn fight. Hearn revealed that the latest issue involves DAZN, which allegedly objected to conversations regarding Garcia due to existing contractual obligations tied to the boxer.
The controversy first gained attention when Golden Boy Promotions, led by Oscar De La Hoya, challenged Zuffa Boxing’s involvement in negotiations connected to Garcia. Hearn now claims the situation has expanded beyond promotional disagreements and into broadcasting rights as well.
Speaking during a recent interview, Hearn suggested that White may have underestimated how complicated the boxing business can be compared to the UFC model. Unlike MMA promotions that often operate under a centralized structure, major boxing events frequently require cooperation between multiple promoters, broadcasters, and management teams.
Hearn argued that any attempt to finalize a high-profile fight without addressing those relationships is likely to create resistance. He pointed to previous examples where fighters under exclusive broadcast agreements were still able to compete elsewhere after extensive negotiations between all parties involved.
According to Hearn, successful boxing deals require collaboration rather than confrontation. He suggested that promoters and broadcasters who hold contractual rights cannot simply be ignored during discussions involving major stars.
The comments also come shortly after Dana White publicly criticized DAZN, questioning the platform’s relevance in the United States. Hearn fired back at those remarks, noting that UFC content is distributed through DAZN in several international markets, making the criticism somewhat ironic from his perspective.
As speculation continues to grow around a possible Ryan Garcia vs. Conor Benn fight, the legal and contractual complications surrounding the bout appear far from resolved.
Whether the fight ultimately moves forward remains unclear, but the situation has already exposed the challenges Dana White faces as he attempts to establish a stronger presence in professional boxing.
For now, fans are left waiting to see whether negotiations can overcome the growing list of obstacles—or if one of boxing’s most talked-about matchups could be delayed before it ever becomes official.
