Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has today revealed major updates on the future of the highly anticipated clash between Conor Benn vs. Chris Eubank Jr.
It looks as though the long awaited clash is finally set to take place early next year, with the potential of being in the UK, despite the issues between Benn and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC), surrounding his failed drugs test.
Difficulties Around December 23rd: Conor Benn vs. Eubank Jr
Hearn admitted there has been issues around trying to get a fixed date for the bout, with the possibility of Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk setting December 23rd as the date for their heavyweight unification fight.
With the promotion not wanting to put the fight’s on the same night, Hearn said they are likely looking at the start of next year as a timeframe for the fight.
He said: “You know we’re eight week out now, so when we talk about Benn-Eubank, it’s very difficult to make a decision without knowing if they’re (Fury and Usyk), going to go.”
“I think that the fight will take place in January in the UK, and we’re looking to try and close that, you know over the next few days.” Hearn added.
Conor Benn Cleared By World Boxing Council
The pair were set to fight in October 2022, but the fight was called off just two days before it was scheduled, after Benn had failed a drug test.
Benn tested positive for the performance-enhancing drug clomifene. Benn stated was determined to clear his name as he was a “clean athlete”.
He was cleared by the World Boxing Council in February of 2023, following an investigation.
The investigation found that a “highly-elevated consumption of eggs” was considered a “reasonable explanation” for the failed drug test.
This allowed Benn to be sanctioned to fight in America, in a return fight against Mexican Rodolfo Orozco. He earned a unanimous decision victory to maintain his unbeaten record (22-0).
Despite this the BBBoC still have not cleared Benn, due to him not being cleared by UK Anti-Doping following the drugs test.
This would mean that he is unable to have a sanctioned fight within the UK, although it now looks that it may change, with Hearn’s confidence of staging the fight in the UK.
Featured image credits to Embed from Getty Images
