Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn continunes to believe that his controvesial welterweight prodigy Conor Benn will make a return to the ring in the first half of 2023. This despite Benn’s two failed drug test for the substance Clomifene, a fertility drug that can raise testosterone levels when used by men. The controversy sturck in October of 2022 in fight week to a highly anticipated PPV event between Benn and Chris Eubank Jr., who’s father fought eachother twice in the 90’s of which at the time created one of the most hostile rivalries in British sport. Three days before the son’s of Benn and Eubank it was revealed that Conor had failed a frugs test of which the promotion between Matchroom and Wasserman tried to save the show and fight under another sanctioning body however to no avail. Furthermore it was later revealed that Connor has also failed a drug test for the same substance as far back as July.
Benn was dropped by the WBC pending a full investigation of which a ruling is still in the hands of the WBC despite Conor submitting a 300 page document which aims to clear his name. Conor has also handed in his BBBofC (British Boxing Board of Control) boxing licence. However despite all of this Hearn feels that Benn could fight right now and wants a decision from the WBC regarding his standing within the WBC of which happened under their watch.
“We want a decision,” Hearn said on the latest episode of The DAZN Boxing Show. “You’re talking about something now that happened seven months ago. He hasn’t boxed for 10 months. We want a decision and if we don’t have a decision soon, we’re going to make a move. Because make no mistake, Conor Benn can fight now. But we, as a team, and Conor Benn as an individual, want a ruling on this."
“He’s not saying, ‘Just get me a fight. I don’t care about this.’ …This is not really a decision that’s going to affect him fighting. This is a decision that’s going to affect his standing within the WBC, because this was under their jurisdiction. But he’s allowed to fight now, but we don’t want him to fight—he doesn’t want to fight until his truth comes out. But sooner or later, at one point, when we get to February or March and we’re waiting for the decision, so … Conor Benn is going to fight Chris Eubank, trust me. And it’s gonna be a massive fight.”
Conor Benn has remained quiet throughout all of this and seemingly only speaking through official statements and social media posts and has not spoken in a official media capacity since October. Benn’s latest post along with Hearn’s optimisim does give the impression that brighter days are on the horizon for the Welterweight.
“Been through hell and back. Thank God for science, The evidence doesn’t lie. No holes in the truth.” was posted on the Instagram account of Conor.
Chris Eubank Jr, the scheduled opponent for last October and a “Born Rival” immediately clapped back at the post in his naturally whitty way with,
“I’m pretty sure it was science that detected the illegal substances in your system on two separate occasions Conor,” Eubank stated. “So yes absolutely thank god for science… otherwise I would have been fighting the hulk a few months ago.”
