Photo Credit: LAPRESSE
We all know what happened the last time Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. were set to fight in one of the more anticipated British boxing bouts in recent times. Benn tested positive for a banned substance in two separate anti-doping tests, and the fight - which was slated to take place in London - was postponed by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC).
Benn saw his suspension lifted by the National Anti-Doping Panel in July, and proceeded to fight Rodolfo Orozco in September, winning by unanimous decision. With the suspension supposedly in the rearview mirror, the fight between Benn and Eubank is free to be revisited and remade.
Benn vs Eubank Jr set for February 3... or is it?
Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn is at the head of negotiations, and he reportedly expects to confirm the date and venue of the fight sometime this week. If all goes according to plan, it would take place on February 3rd at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
But just as quickly as the words came out of Hearn's mouth, the potential fight was dealt a harsh blow. The BBBofC, which have final say over boxing events happening in the United Kingdom, rejected Benn's application to fight Eubank in the UK.
The board feel any athlete who has failed a drugs test needs to go through an investigation with the proper authorities and that hasn't happened... unfortunately it's been delayed, not through the Boxing Board of Control or UKAD, but through other parties. With regard to Mr. Benn boxing in this country, we have had an application for him to box in this country, that has been refused. They can put out what they want ultimately, but they haven't been through the proper authorities and as I said before we're really keen to get this done right from the beginning.
A British boxing fight of this caliber, with the bad blood between the two, really deserves to be held in their nation. Unfortunately, until the governing body approves it, it simply won't happen.
Many big boxing events have been held in the Middle East as of late. That could be where Hearn takes Benn and Eubank next.
