The WBA Continental welterweight title holder Conor Benn was scheduled to fight his fellow countryman Chris Eubank Jr. on October 8, 2022, at the O2 Arena in London, but the Destroyer tested positive for drugs.
Benn then said the first test result was a faulty one and then demanded a second test, in which the Brit again tested positive for the same drug substance, for which the bout got postponed and he had to relinquish his British boxing license.
Currently, the 21-0 welterweight is working with his team to clear his name. Speaking to Boxing Social, Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn said that Benn is confident that the document prepared by his team will help him get back his license.
“He’s back in training, he wants to fight and is being told he can fight. We’re kind of holding him back for that decision, he’s saying ‘Well if this document shows my innocence and a commission will see that document and license me, I’m ready to fight’. My question to the situation is, at what point do we say it’s enough waiting and it’s time to fight again?”
And talking to Boxing King Media, the chairman of Matchroom Boxing revealed that there was a preliminary conversation going between Manny Pacquaio and Benn regarding their future fight.
“I would not be surprised to see Conor Benn fight Manny Pacquaio next, but it’s not signed. There’s been a couple of discussions, minor discussions.”
However, Hearn cited that until a proper official statement of Benn’s innocence came out, the undefeated orthodox would not fight anyone.
“I want someone to come out of the panel and say, ‘This is the findings’. The public is not going to listen to me or Conor Benn. I don’t want to come out and say, ‘It’s proven now’, I want the people in charge of the testing to say that. Until that happens, he’s never really going to get cleared but it’s nearly time.”
