Saturday’s fight was expected to reignite the rivalry between their dads, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, who fought twice throughout the 1990s.
This weekend’s fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. may be canceled after the British Boxing Board of Control declared the bout “prohibited” due to a failed drug test.
Matchroom Boxing and Wasserman Boxing insisted in a joint statement that the fight will proceed despite Benn’s “adverse analytical test for trace levels of a reproductive medication.”
The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) stated that the match scheduled for Saturday at the O2 Arena was “not in the best interest of boxing.”
The BBBofC issued a statement stating: “The board of the British Boxing Board of Control Limited decided on the evening of 4 October 2022 that the fight between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn scheduled for 8 October 2022 is barred because it is not in the best interests of boxing.
This was informed to the fighters and promoters involved on October 5, 2022, in the morning.
Benn and Eubank Jr. were scheduled to fight in a bout that would be the third installment in their family rivalry, which began in the 1990s when their dads, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, fought twice.
Previously, Matchroom and Wasserman Boxing issued a joint statement stating: “We have been informed that a random anti-doping test administered to Conor Benn by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association revealed the presence of trace levels of fertility medication.
“The sample B has not yet been analyzed, hence no rule infringement has been proven. Mr. Benn has not been charged with any rule violation, he has not been suspended, and he is still eligible to compete.
“Since then, Mr. Benn has passed a doping control test administered by the UK Anti-Doping Agency, the anti-doping authority to whom the British Board of Boxing Control has delegated its doping control testing for the match. Mr. Benn has passed all UKAD-administered drug tests.
“Both combatants have sought medical and legal counsel, are aware of all pertinent information, and wish to proceed with Saturday’s bout.”
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom has since stated that attorneys are “going back and forth” in an attempt to get the fight to go place.
