Eddie Hearn has provided another update on Conor Benn as fans await news from the doping cases against him.
Benn’s career was thrown into jeopardy late last year as it was revealed he had failed two drugs tests for banned substance, Clomiphene – typically a female fertility drug that’s known to increase testosterone in males.
It not only saw his fight with Chris Eubank Jr cancelled, but any other immediate plans in the sport.
The young, undefeated welterweight has maintained from the start that he’s innocent, and has provided some 270 pages of evidence supporting that fact to the WBC. The sanctioning body, as well as the British Boxing Board of Control, are yet to announce their decisions on Benn’s future in regard to their organisations.
Despite this, his promoter Eddie Hearn joins him in being buoyant, previously stating that it’s a ‘fact’ Benn will return this year and now telling the DAZN Boxing Show that he’s been ordered to make a big fight as soon as he can.
“Connor has made it clear to me and the team he wants to go straight back in a big fight. Psychologically and emotionally I would prefer him to come out almost with a run out and then go into a big fight because of everything he’s had to go through.
But he’s made it clear to me I Eubank, I want ‘Tank’ Davis, I want Kell Brook, I want Pacquiao, I want all these guys. This is the frustrating thing now because we’re in this situation where it’s just waiting on that all.”
As far as the opponents listed, two are competing in the wrong weight class and the other two are officially retired.
The fight with Eubank Jr is almost certain to be rescheduled at one stage, and a recent online back and forth between Benn and Gervonta Davis planted the seed for a catchweight bout.
Kell Brook hung up the gloves following his career-defining victory over Amir Khan, although has dropped hints about a return. Lastly, Manny Pacquiao is manoeuvring a politcal career around a stint on the exhibition circuit – but, once again, hasn’t ruled out a return as a sort of gatekeeper for champions.
Currently for fans though, more information on the doping scandal is much more important than who’s in the opposite corner when Benn returns.