2025-12-21 10:30:44
Duke McKenzie was left “deeply upset” after a heated confrontation with Conor Benn at a boxing event in Dubai.
The former three-weight world champion, 62, was confronted in the stands by The Destroyer, 29, following criticism McKenzie had previously made about the welterweight’s failed drugs tests that led to the collapse of his planned 2022 fight with Chris Eubank Jr., 36.
Video footage circulating on social media shows Benn aggressively approaching McKenzie, pointing in his face and shouting, while the former champion struggles to respond.
During an appearance on talkBOXING, McKenzie said: “What he said I am deeply upset about, I didn’t go to Dubai to be berated in such a manner.”
McKenzie explained that the altercation was entirely unexpected and took place while he was attending the event socially with friends and fellow boxing figures.
He said: “I was there with my little mate over there Spencer [Oliver], Johnny Nelson, Barrie Jones and Amir Khan. I was just sitting there minding my own business, watching the boxing.”
The former light-welterweight, welterweight and light-middleweight world champion stressed that he had never previously met Benn and felt the approach was confrontational from the outset.
He said: “I’ve never met Conor Benn before, by the way, and he’s obviously waited for his moment to approach me, and he did quite aggressively.
“He just went off on one. You know when someone shouts you down, and you can’t get a word out.”
McKenzie acknowledged that Benn appeared angered by comments relating to the widely reported adverse analytical findings that halted his career at the top level.
He said: “He has obviously taken offence to something I may have said previously.
“I have looked back on comments I have made about Conor Benn, and I have never said anything on a personal level.
“Obviously, on a professional level, I have got my own opinion, which is valid [about failed drug tests]. But I have never said anything more than that; everything I have said about him is already out there in the public domain, so it is nothing new.”
McKenzie noted the public nature of the incident was what troubled him most.
He said: “I’m quite upset that he decided to berate me and shout at me in front of people, pointing his finger in my face, quite aggressively, I may add.”
Spencer Oliver, who witnessed the exchange, also criticised Benn’s behaviour.
The Omen, 50, said: “If he had an issue with you, he could have taken you to one side, and you could have had that chat. But to do it the way he did was very disrespectful; what he said to you was disgraceful.”
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