British Boxer Conor Benn Says Church Made His Childhood “Traumatic”

British boxer Conor Benn has spoken openly about the painful memories of his childhood, saying the church he grew up in left him scared, confused, and emotionally damaged.

Benn, now 29, said he was raised in a strict religious environment after his family moved to Mallorca, Spain. Although he lived in a “beautiful mansion” and attended private school, he described the church influence around him as extreme.

“It was very heavily Christian, very religious. School was very extreme and church was very extreme,” he said. “Christmas was blasphemy so we couldn’t celebrate it. Everything was just a lot.”

Benn said the church tried to convince him that the world was ending, and at just 12 years old he was told he was “demon-possessed”. He said he grew up frightened, waking up with nightmares and constantly feeling something was wrong with him.

He explained that the pastors had strong control over his parents, who were also deeply involved in the church at the time. Benn said he felt isolated, unable to escape the pressure and dark thoughts, even at home.

Benn’s father, former world champion Nigel Benn, was going through personal struggles after retiring from boxing and believed the church would help him. Conor said his dad was “vulnerable”, living with pastors for a year while trying to fix his life.

The boxer admitted that the experience left him troubled and angry as he grew older. It was only after the family moved to Australia when he was 18 that he started to understand the damage done by his upbringing.

He later rebuilt his relationship with his father after a personal setback brought them closer. “We’ve cried hand-in-hand and cuddled,” Benn said. “It took some time and a lot of therapy for me to forgive.”

Now a father of two, Benn says he is still a Christian but wants a healthier environment for his own children. “I want to find a church that actually worships God and has the base and fundamentals of a Christian,” he said.

As he prepares for his rematch with Chris Eubank Jr on Saturday, Benn says he is moving past the “dark chapter” of his childhood and the challenges he faced in recent years. Despite setbacks, he hopes to earn back public support and continue building his career with his father by his side.