Chris Eubank Jr’s fight against Conor Benn is NOT going ahead, according to Robert Smith from the British Boxing Board of Control.
Eubank Jr vs Benn has been mooted for a 03 February 2023 date despite Conor Benn not holding a British boxing licence, and Benn is currently amidst an appeal from the BBBofC for his two failed VADA anti-doping tests.
General Secretary of the BBBofC Robert Smith spoke to TalkSport earlier today regarding the impending announcement of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
“The Board feel that any athlete, not just a boxer, but any athlete who has failed a drugs test needs to go through an investigation with the proper authorities and that hasn’t happened.
“We’re waiting for that to happen and the Boxing Board and UKAD (UK Anti-Doping) have been pushing for that to happen right from the beginning of this and 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.”
Matchroom Boxing promoter and promoter of Conor Benn Eddie Hearn has yet to comment directly on Robert Smith’s comments, but Kalle Sauerland, promoter of Chris Eubank Jr, has spoken on the matter to IFL TV and Wasserman Boxing’s YouTube Channel.
Sauerland spoke to Wasserman Boxing about his upcoming card this Friday, but also addressed the rumours of Eubank Jr vs Benn being announced. Sauerland confirmed that no deal has been agreed, but
“It is quite obvious that we talking, it is also quite obvious we haven’t got a deal, or else we would have had a press conference”.
“There’s also a licencing process and how that’s going to be done”.
“It is coming to a head now, because timing-wise, it will either happen now or it won’t happen”.