Conor Benn’s search for another massive payday puts him in treacherous territory after Ryan Garcia destroyed him in just two rounds. Eddie Hearn insists Chris Eubank Jr. stands as Benn’s lone viable move, openly wondering how Zuffa Boxing navigates this mess.

Benn commands enormous paydays, which makes soft matchmaking nearly impossible. Zuffa needs major events to justify its financial backing. Staging an uncompetitive tune-up becomes a brutal sell coming off an early knockout loss. Paying Benn top-tier money to beat up overmatched opponents turns into a fast way to burn through cash.

“The only fight for Conor Benn now is Chris Eubank. That’s it,” Hearn said to iFL TV. “Chris Eubank, ironically, holds the keys to Conor Benn’s next payday.”

A domestic clash with Eubank carries built-in nostalgia and guaranteed UK attention. In contrast, grinding out a rebuild at 147 pounds demands heavy lifting, since cruising past an overmatched opponent won’t erase the image of Garcia dropping him.

Benn must topple legitimate welterweight contenders to prove he belongs among the elite. His outings against Regis Prograis and Garcia offer plenty of reasons to doubt he can pull that off. Those bouts laid bare technical flaws that a soft touch can only paper over.

Zuffa might purchase some breathing room with careful matchmaking, yet Benn eventually has to face punchers capable of targeting those exact holes. That reality makes a gradual comeback an expensive gamble with zero guarantee of a payoff.

Hearn floated the idea that Zuffa could present Benn with lethal fights like Shakur Stevenson or Jaron Ennis, triggering immediate salary disputes.

“He’ll go, ‘I’m not fighting those guys for that kind of money,’ and they’ll go, ‘See you.’ He may never even fight again,” Hearn claimed.

Hearn didn’t quote Benn’s contract or point to a concrete offer Benn turned down. His forecast leans on speculation, though the underlying business logic holds up. Exactly how many setup bouts will Zuffa finance before demanding a dangerous matchup?

Old grievances clearly color Hearn’s comments. He still resents the way Benn walked out on Matchroom without picking up the phone after years of promotional loyalty.

“You can’t knock Conor Benn for taking the deal,” Hearn admitted. “What you can knock him for is the way that he treated me in terms of not even having a conversation with me.”

Personal bitterness aside, Hearn pinpoints a genuine dilemma. Benn’s price tag creates immediate pressure to deliver marquee fights, while his recent tape gives prospective rivals a clear roadmap to beat him.

Settling the score with Eubank delivers the quick cash grab Benn wants. Attempting to rebuild at welterweight forces Benn to take on dangerous contenders to restore his standing, which is precisely where the entire operation could unravel.