Eddie Hearn believes that Conor Benn vs Chris Eubank Jr. could still be a possible match up, despite Benn’s failed drug tests.
The pair were set to face each other on Saturday 8th October at a 157lb catchweight which left many concerned for Eubank Jr, who would have been cutting down to meet the number on the scales. However, due to banned substance Clomifene being found in Benn’s system, the event was cancelled at the last minute.
Hearn told IFL TV that the historic bout could still happen, as he claims Benn will fight again, and this could be as early as next summer. He did however say that business on Eubank’s end could change things.
“If Eubank Jr. starts to lose fights to the likes of Liam Smith, that obviously impacts that fight, but at the end of the day … if Conor Benn receives a ban, he’s going to be fighting again.”
“Whether that’s, like I said, three months, six months, a year, whatever that is, and that will be from July. So the latest, really, I see Conor back in the ring is probably next summer, or maybe even sooner.”
As mentioned, Chris Eubank Jr. is looking at other opponents, with Liam Smith likely being announced this week.
In spite of Benn failing two VADA drugs tests, he and his team remain adamant that ‘The Destroyer’ is innocent, and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, believes he may not get a ban at all, as he argued the Benn vs Eubank Jr. fight would still be a big fight.
“And there’s every opportunity I believe looking at the facts that he gets no ban, so we’ll have to see how that plays out in a hearing. But one thing I do know is he’s going to be returning at some point in his life in a big fight and for me that’s still the Eubank Jr. fight. But obviously Eubank is not going to wait around until then, but if he loses that does impact the fight happening.”
Conor Benn’s future in boxing is still unknown as he awaits a hearing. We expect to hear more on the situation soon.