Eddie Hearn has weighed in on the potential return of Conor Benn, and insists the young star can expect the most stringent anti doping protocol of his career so far.
Benn is expected to be back in action in the first half of this year, with Hearn even telling fans they could expect an announcement as early as next week.
Hearn told the DAZN Boxing Show that the testing in place for the fight will be “more rigorous than any fight that has ever existed” – before slamming those with “agendas” against Benn.
“You know, whoever Conor Benn fights next, the testing process is going to be more rigorous than any fight that has ever existed, right?”
“Let’s see if all of a sudden, if there’s a dip in his performance, and he don’t punch as hard—absolutely ridiculous, you know.”
“I cannot believe the relentlessness of some people, with agendas. I’ve never seen so many people so all of a sudden passionate about the subject.”
The frontrunner for Benn’s comeback bout looks to be Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao, with Hearn describing the fight as “ready to make” in an interview last week.
‘Pac-Man’s manager Sean Gibbons has also been public in his desire to make the cross generational clash.
Benn also, however, found himself in an online back and forth with former welterweight world champion Kell Brook, whom ‘The Destroyer’ claimed retired rather than fight him last year.
‘The Special One’ is now back in training and looks to have his eyes set on a return to the ring, so a fight with Benn seems like a real possibility for the back end of 2023.
Judging by the footage of the pair sparring that surfaced this week, it would be a contest not to be missed.