Supporters of Chris Eubank Jr.-Conor Benn are scrambling to save the war, which is in jeopardy after Benn tested positive for a banned substance.
The British Boxing Supervisory Board, the sport’s watchdog in the UK, has indicated it will not sanction the match – scheduled for Saturday in London – due to Benn’s failure in the post. test for a testosterone booster.
Sources told ESPN that Matchroom Boxing and Wasserman Boxing executives are calling on other agencies to sanction the event.
That could include the Luxembourg Boxing Federation, which oversaw the 2012 showdown between David Haye and Derek Chisora after the BBBofC withdrew as a result of a pre-match press conference.
Another possibility is the British and Irish Boxing Authority, which has sanctioned matches involving Youtuber KSI.
ESPN also reported that Matchroom President Eddie Hearn is seeking an order to allow the match at the O2 Arena to take place.
“Form B has yet to be tested, meaning no rule violations have been confirmed,” Hearn said in a statement. Indeed, Mr. Benn has not been charged with any rule violations, he has not been suspended, and he is still free to fight.
“Mr. Benn has since passed a doping control test conducted by the UK’s Anti-Doping Authority, the anti-doping body to which the British Boxing Board has authorized the doping control test for the fight. Mr. Benn has passed all doping control tests conducted by UKAD.
“Both fighters have received medical and legal advice, know all relevant information and wish to continue the fight this Saturday.”
BBBofC later indicated that the fight was over. It was the statement that read: “On the evening of 4 October 2022, the Board of Directors of the British Boxing Control Council resolved that the showdown between Chris Eubank Jnr. and Conor Benn scheduled for October 8, 2022 are banned because it is not beneficial to Boxing. That was communicated to the relevant Boxers and Promoters on the morning of October 5, 2022.”
Meanwhile, Benn says he’s “a clean athlete.”
“I didn’t commit any violations, I didn’t get suspended, because I’m concerned the fight is still going on,” he told members of the media after practice. “I signed up for every voluntary anti-doping test under the sun, throughout my career I have been tested, I have always come back negative, I have never had any problems before. .
“My team will figure out why there was an initial adverse finding in my testing, but as far as I’m concerned the fight is still on. I’m a clean athlete and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
He continued: “We (Benn and Eubank) both want the fight to continue. We both gave medical and legal advice and we both wanted the fight to happen for the fans. He completely trusts, he believes in me, and it’s not about who I am or what I am. I am a professional athlete and he is very understanding. “
Benn tested positive for Clomifene, a fertility drug for women that is said to increase testosterone levels in men. He was tested by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association.
