Conor Benn will end his long and controversial absence from the ring this weekend in Orlando, Florida.
The undefeated 26-year-old – son of two-weight world champion, Nigel – hasn’t fought since an April 2022 knockout over Chris Van Heerden. It was a 21st straight victory for Benn, who found himself in the top five rankings for all four major sanctioning bodies thereafter.
He looked to follow that victory up with by reigniting a family rivalry with Chris Eubank Jr in October, but his career went of the rails in the form of two failed doping tests.
Benn has maintained his innocence ever since, with claims of both a laboratory error and contamination. The WBC reinstated him into its rankings by stating an increased diet of eggs could be the cause.
The Brit went before the UK Anti-Doping Agency this year and was provisionally suspended as the investigation was underway. That was lifted, reportedly on a jurisdictional basis, but the British Boxing Board of Control have announced they have appealed the decision.
With that ongoing, it’s understood Benn’s team have opened conversations about their fighter re-obtaining a British license and facing Eubank towards the end of the year.
In the meantime, he has secured one in Florida, and it was announced today that he would appear on the undercard of Richardson Hitchins’ super-lightweight fight with Jose Zepeda.
Benn will face Mexican Rodolfo Orozco, a 24-year-old with a professional record of 32-3-3 and 24 knockout wins. It will be Orozco’s first fight outside of his home country, and comes off the back of stoppage wins over Jesus Nunez Rodriguez and Elian Trejo Juarez.
The bout will be at the super-welterweight limit of 154lbs – a first time for Benn and second for his opponent – and is scheduled for ten rounds.