“There are certain individuals you choose to back. You place your wagers on specific people, and we are signing him, Shakur Stevenson, along with several others, and ideally Ryan once his current contract concludes. But absolutely, there are athletes you gamble on. From a commercial standpoint, I would back Conor Benn without hesitation. He is pure entertainment. He is the kind of figure you can construct an entire enterprise around,” Dana remarked to talkSPORT Boxing.
While White might already have secured Benn, Ryan represents the more lucrative American asset. He generates massive buzz without requiring a championship title, handpicked opponents, or lengthy marketing campaigns. Millions of people closely track his every move, spanning his controversies, bans, and erratic media appearances.
This does not necessarily establish Ryan as the premiere figure in the sport, despite how frequently he claims that moniker. However, it positions him perfectly as the exact sort of character that White possesses the expertise to promote.
Zuffa currently boasts Shakur, a fighter of world-class ability who has nevertheless found it difficult to translate his mastery into broad public appeal. Benn offers the promotion a gateway to the UK market alongside a highly offensive fighting approach. Meanwhile, Ryan would inject a level of US star power that neither of the other two can replicate.
Furthermore, White has a clear tactical motive for revealing his interest right in the middle of the Ryan–Benn fight week. If Ryan is aware that a rival promotional giant is eager to sign him, his bargaining power increases significantly for his upcoming contract talks. Golden Boy Promotions will undoubtedly receive this signal loud and clear.
The outcome of Saturday’s bout is unlikely to sway Zuffa’s intentions significantly. Even in defeat, Ryan maintains his commercial appeal, as his fame has never been tied solely to his victories. Conversely, Benn has to demonstrate that he can generate similar levels of interest when he is not sharing the ring with Ryan.
While White characterized Benn as a foundational asset for his enterprise, Ryan could very well be the competitor who delivers the maximum possible viewership to that very venture.
