Carl Froch has some advice for Conor Benn ahead of his proposed bout with Chris Eubank Jr – a continuation of a rivalry started by their fathers some 30 years ago.
It was initially due to be fought back in October 2022 before Benn failed a drugs test and, since then, his biggest fight has been against the British Boxing Board of Control.
That doesn’t appear to be over given the Board has recently denied him a licence to fight against Eubank Jr until he has satisfied them that his drug testing issues have been fully resolved.
That said, Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn has said that they are working towards a February fight date regardless, so the war of words between the two boxers has carried on to hype the event up.
Eubank has stayed busy since the fight fell through, first losing by knockout to Liam Smith in January before reversing the decision in the summer with a stoppage of his own.
Benn has fought just one 10-rounder against a Mexican who was recently announced to have failed a doping test himself.
Regardless of the hype by the fighters and promoters, speaking on Froch on Fighting ‘The Cobra’ told Benn he needs to face up to the Board before anything happens.
“Conor Benn has not been given a licence by the British Boxing Board of Control. And that’s the sticking point. He needs to go in front of the board have his hearing and have his trial.
He then admitted he hoped that would happen because he would like to see the fight.
“Yes, I want to see Eubank fight Benn, and depending on the weight, probably 160, I think it’s a good fight, but I’m not going to try and pick a winner ’cause we’re miles away from it happening yet.”
He then sounded a word of warning should they try to stage the fight under the auspices of another governing body.
“If it happens abroad, anybody involved in an unlicensed fight could be in trouble themselves so I don’t think anybody wants to be involved until the British Boxing Board of Control give Benn a licence.”
Hearn has this week claimed that Eubank is ‘desperate’ for the fight but as of now, he will have to keep waiting.