Negotiations are back underway for welterweight Conor Benn 21-0 (14) to face middleweight contender Chris Eubank Jr 33-3 (24).
The duo were all set to clash in a 157-pound catchweight bout last October before Benn was a late scratching after testing positive to banned female fertility drug clomifene.
The 26-year-old Benn has not fought since as he sought to clear his name. He currently has no licence to box in the UK but the National Anti-Doping Panel recently lifted his provisional suspension. UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) have appealed the decision.
While Benn has been out of the ring Eubank Jr, 33, has remained busy with mixed results. In January he was knocked out in four rounds by Liam Smith 33-4-1 (20) but reversed the result in their rematch earlier this month when he stopped the former WBO junior middleweight champion in the 10th round of a one-sided bout.
The rivalry between the pair is real and the family history only amplifies this. Nigel Benn was stopped by Chris Eubank Sr in nine rounds in 1990 and 30 years ago the pair battled to a split draw.
Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn is bullish about the fight, suggesting that it is the second biggest all-British bout that can be made.
“Eubank Jr vs Benn is not as big as Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua but it’s not a million miles away,” the Matchroom Boxing boss told 5 Live Boxing.
“It’s an all-time British classic, it’s the biggest fight for Eubank Jr and it’s the biggest fight for Benn.
“Hopefully we can get that done for December. We’re in talks with Kalle Sauerland [Eubank’s promoter].”
Hearn remains eternally optimistic that Benn’s licencing woes can be sorted out well before the proposed bout that he would like to see take place at London’s Wembley Stadium.
“He’s cleared to fight everywhere at the moment, he’s not suspended, he’s had that suspension lifted, he won his case,” Hearn said of Benn’s licencing woes.
“The British Boxing Board of Control are appealing and that’s expected to be later this year but as of now, he’s free to fight in the UK, he’s free to fight in America, he’s licensed in America as well, there are discussions about him jumping on the September 30th card in London, but there’s also discussions about him fighting in Orlando on September 23rd.
“Eubank Jr vs Benn is an absolute monster and that’s why we’re looking at Wembley Stadium.”
