Eddie Hearn has been honest with his fighter, Conor Benn, over how the boxing public will perceive him after testing positive for a banned substance.
Benn’s career has been in limbo ever since news broke that he had failed a doping test – subsequently revealed to be two – back in October of 2022. He has maintained innocence throughout, and Hearn has stood by his side in that regard.
He is now the subject of an investigation by the World Boxing Council, the conclusion of which will either ban him from the rankings or reinstate him and allow him to fight for the organisation’s titles.
Hearn told Seconds Out that his fighter must adopt a ‘f**k you’ mentality no matter the outcome.
“In this situation, people have made up their mind already. They could come out and say this was a complete farce this whole process and he’s innocent. ‘Oh what a load of rubbish!’ No one really cares [what the verdict is.]”
“I said to Conor Benn the other day, you got to have the f**k you mentality now. This is a kid who wants to be loved. He wants to be a hero – and he ain’t gonna be. Innocent, guilty, whatever. So you just got to get on with it now.
As for the investigation, Hearn is unaware as to when an official announcement will be made by the WBC, but believes it will be soon.
“This is very important this process. I’m being told by the media that we’ll get a decision today. I haven’t been told that by Conor Benn or his lawyers. I haven’t been on those calls with the WBC. I’ve no idea.
But I am hearing that a result is imminent.”
Benn and his team will undoubtedly use the WBC results – reported to be favourable to the fighter – to claim that his name has been cleared, however many fans are keen to see a conclusion to the British Boxing Board of Control’s investigation, too.