Chris Eubank Jr. confront Conor Benn curiously.
On the one hand, Eubank said guard that Benn should be banned from boxing after he failed a drug test this past October, which ruined their scheduled meeting. On the other hand, Eubank still wants to fight its domestic rival.
Eubank was first scheduled to take on Liam Smith in a 12-round 160-pound match on Saturday at the AO Arena in Manchester, England (DAZN).
“If you were going to talk about setting an example for kids and the next generation of boxers, then, yes, I would definitely say ban. [is appropriate], he told the newspaper. “The selfish side of the money, that’s where I as a boxer want to get into the big fights and get my hands on this kid for what he’s done, don’t want to be banned.”
Benn allegedly tested positive for Clomifene, a female fertility drug that is said to increase testosterone levels in men, after more than a week of fighting.
Eubank, who was informed immediately, agreed to continue the fight after Benn told him the allegations were “cow –.” However, it fell apart after the British Boxing Control Board refused to sanction it.
Eubank considered Benn an “excellent actor” after learning that Benn had allegedly failed another drug test a few months earlier. Now their competition is more personal than ever.
He said: “Yes, the fight is twice as big. “We will need a stadium with 60,000 instead of O2 [Arena in London]. Does he deserve such pay after being caught with illegal substances? Sure is not. But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up that payday.
“And, for now, it’s a personal matter. It’s not just about maintaining the family legacy. I really don’t like this kid now. He did wrong to me. So he loses all his privileges and exchange power. No weight terms now. There is no rehydration limit. There is no 50% split.
“Everything is in my court now. I’m the only battle that people want to see him in.”
Of course, Eubank (32-2, 23 KOs) has to get past Smith first. And that’s not a given.
Smith (32-3-1, 19 KOs) is a former 154-pound boxer who has won three straight fights since losing to rising middleweight rival Magomed Kurbanov in May 2021, including a 10.order-round TKO of Jessie Vargas this past April.
Most observers believe Smith has a legitimate chance of winning the war. Eubank respects his British colleagues but is also very confident.
“He’s a former world champion and you have to respect that at all times,” Eubank said. “I also don’t think he’d enter the fight if he didn’t think he could win. But if I fight at 50% of my ability then I will win.
“That’s how I believe I’m superior to him.”
