Promoter Eddie Hearn is working to bring troubled Conor Benn back into fighting relevance.
In a recent interview, the head of Matchroom Boxing sounded off on the next steps for his sidelined welterweight charge, proposing a scenario in which Benn could fight as soon as June, possibly outside his native United Kingdom.
The embattled Benn took a victory lap of sorts after the World Boxing Council last week concluded its investigation into his two failed doping tests, saying that they found plausible that a “highly elevated” consumption of eggs led to Benn accidentally ingesting clomifene, a fertility drug that boosts testosterone levels in men and is also known to help with weight loss. As a result, Benn has been reinstated into the WBC’s welterweight rankings. The Essex native has not fought since demolishing Chris Van Heerden in two rounds last April.
Benn, however, is still being investigated by the British Boxing Board of Control and United Kingdom Anti-Doping, and their decision could affect whether or not Benn can box in his country. Benn relinquished his license with the Board in late October.
Hearn, who has repeatedly gone to bat for his client, seemed to suggest he would be willing to have Benn fight in foreign territory in the event that he is unable to garner a British license.
“Behind the scenes, talking from a boxing perspective, we will now make a decision where we will apply for a license for Conor Benn to fight,” Hearn said on The DAZN Boxing Show. “It could be Nevada, it could be New York, it could be Britain, it could be an international license.
“Ultimately, we want to get him back in the ring, probably in June.”
Hearn has also floated the Middle East as a possible destination for Benn’s next fight.
Benn failed two separate drug tests—both administered by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association—several months apart; the first was taken in July, the second in September. Urine samples for both tests returned a presence of clomifene. The revelation of the second test led to the cancellation of his highly anticipated 157-pound catchweight bout with Chris Eubank Jr. The existence of the first test was not known until several weeks later, leading to the view that Hearn and Benn were trying to mislead the public.
On Tuesday, Benn offered a lengthy statement in which he voiced his partial displeasure with the WBC’s verdict. Benn indicated that the legal argument presented to the WBC had to do with what he believes were flaws in the testing process, not contaminated eggs, which has led to his being the butt of many a joke online.
Hearn, however, said he prefers to have the backing of the BBBofC before putting concrete promotional plans into place for Benn.
“That process, we’d much rather go through that process with the British Boxing Board of Control,” Hearn said. “However right now that’s the last thing that Conor Benn wants to do because he’s fuming. It (apply for BBBofC license) means he can box straightaway in the UK. If not, his next fight will be internationally. And that’s something we’ll have to decide in the coming days.”
“One thing is for show, he wants the biggest fights out there,” Hearn added. “Like it or love it, everyone in the world is going to watch Conor Benn’s next fight.”
