The promoters of the Chris Eubank Jr versus Conor Benn fight have publicly conceded their fight that was scheduled to take place on Saturday night is now officially off.
Benn tested positive for the female fertility drug clomifene, which can also boost testosterone levels in men.
Promoters Matchroom Boxing and Wasserman Boxing issued a joint statement today.
“After discussions with various parties, we have taken the decision to formally postpone the bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn,” it said.
“It is undeniable that the British Boxing Board of Control’s decision to withdraw their sanctioning was procedurally flawed and without due process. That remains a legal issue between the promoters and the Board which we intend to pursue.
“However, whilst there are legal routes to facilitate the fight taking place as planned, we do not believe that it is in the fighters’ interests for those to be pursued at such a late stage, or in the wider interests of the sport. As promoters, we take our obligations and duties very seriously, and a full investigation will now need to take place. We will be making no further comment at this time and news for ticket holder refunds will follow.”
A BBBoC statement read: “On the evening of 4th October 2022, the Board of the British Boxing Board of Control Limited resolved that the contest between Chris Eubank Jnr. and Conor Benn scheduled to take place on 8th October 2022 is prohibited as it is not in the interests of Boxing.”
Yesterday Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn called into question the testing protocols.
“We’ve just seen the British Boxing Board of Control’s statement, which is pretty straight forward,” he said.
“It’s with the lawyers going backwards and forwards right now. Both guys signed up to a multitude of testing for this fight.
“The UKAD testing, which is obviously the testing agency that the British Boxing Board of Control use and are governed by are all clear and negative.
“There was an adverse finding on a VADA test previously. So there’s not been an official doping violation there’s a process that has to be gone through.
“Conor Benn is not suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control, ultimately he can’t be, because he passed all the tests from UKAD.
“But clearly the British Boxing Board of Control will take a position on it, we’ll deal with the lawyers.”
Benn had protested his innocence and was confident the fight would still go ahead.
“I’ve not committed any violations. I’ve not been suspended so as far as I’m concerned the fight is still going ahead,” he said.
“I’ve spoken to Chris personally and we both want the fight to go ahead.
“We’ve both taken medical and legal advice and as I said, we want the fight to go ahead for the fans.
“I’ve signed up to every voluntary anti-doping testing there is under the sun.
“Throughout my whole career I’m tested. All my UKAD tests have come back negative throughout my whole career.
“I’ve never had any issues before. Even in the lead up to this fight my test have come up negative.
“So my team will find out as to why there’s been an initial adverse finding in my test.
“But as I said, the fight is still going ahead. I’m a clean athlete and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
