Chris Eubank Jr. has ruled out a fight with Conor Benn until the latter proves his innocence following two failed VADA tests for Clomiphene.
Benn was suspended by UKAD in April following the two failed tests after the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) refused to sanction his fight with Eubank Jr. In the aftermath, Benn claimed his innocence as he vowed to return to boxing. Although Benn’s suspension has been lifted, both UKAD and the BBBofC have appealed the decision. As such, Benn will have to undergo an appeal process. After all, question marks remain over whether the boxer has proven contamination or the absence of the Clomiphene, which is critical in light of strict liability. And until those questions are answered, Eubank does not see the fight materializing. And in doing so, he sees himself as the A-side.
“Absolutely. He lost all his privileges when he failed those drug tests a year ago. I’m the A side. I’m the shot-caller in that fight. It will happen. The fight will happen. I can’t tell you when it will happen. He still has a lot of issues to smooth out and I have a lot of options to weigh up.
“He does need to be fully acquitted of the situation he’s in. He can’t have any appeals going on with the Board. He can’t have any drug agencies having him on a banned list or whatever the case may be. He has to be 100 percent clear for that fight to go ahead. As far as I’m concerned at this moment in time he isn’t,” Eubank Jr.
Despite that being the case, Eddie Hearn is already looking to make the fight happen in December at Wembley. As of now, Benn is technically cleared to fight since the suspension is no longer valid. However, there are question marks over whether it can be morally justified in light of the appeal. And yet, Hearn was already looking ahead to the future.
“Eubank Jr v Benn is not as big as Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua but it’s not a million miles away. It’s an all-time British classic [the fight between their fathers], 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 [Eubank’s promoter] Kalle Sauerland. Eubank Jr vs. Benn is an absolute monster and that’s why we’re looking at Wembley Stadium,” Hearn said