As speculation continues over whether Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn will go ahead, Eddie Hearn has provided some clarity as to the options.
Eubank Jr and Benn were all set to clash on Saturday night at the O2 Arena, but this week it has all fallen into chaos after it was revealed that ‘The Destroyer’ failed a drugs test.
Benn tested positive for the banned substance, clomifene, which is used to treat fertility in women but can increase testosterone in men and the British Boxing Board of Control [BBoC] subsequently prohibited the bout from going ahead.
With that being said, both Benn and Eubank Jr are happy for the fight to go ahead and their promoters are trying to do just that.
It was reported by the Daily Mail that three different foreign sanctioning bodies were being considered to bypass the BBBoC, similarly to when David Haye and Derek Chisora fought back in 2012 under the auspices of the Luxembourg Boxing Federation.
Since then, however, promoter Hearn has denied these reports.
The Matchroom chief posted on Twitter: “Let’s see what today brings but to make one thing clear, I will not be promoting this fight with a foreign commission or alternative governing body on Saturday night.”
Alternatively, it seems Hearn is attempting to solve the issue legally by having a court order the BBBoC to sanction the bout, with a hearing expected on Thursday.
The Mail has also reported that there are discussions about changing the weight restrictions for the fight.
As it stands the fight is scheduled to take place at a catchweight of 157lbs, which would see Benn add 10lbs to his usual welterweight frame.
As for Eubank Jr, he has campaigned for the majority of his career between 160-168lbs and so he was having to undergo a significant weight cut, but this could be made a little easier in light of Benn’s failed drugs test.
There is still a chance, however, that this fight may not go ahead at all, as the idea has already received a lot of backlash.
That includes from promoter Ben Shalom who told talkSPORT: “I’ve seen a lot of things in the past 18 months that have shocked me, but I think this is particularly shocking…
“When a fighter fails a drugs test in any other sport, there wouldn’t even be a debate…
“This is complete disrespect for the sport and look at the general verdict of the public opinion out there, it’s only the promoters that think this event should go ahead.”
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News Summary:
- Eddie Hearn denies foreign sanctioning body is being considered in ‘Luxembourg’ style deal for Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight to go ahead after failed drugs test
- Check all news and articles from the latest Boxing updates.