Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, has picked what he believes will be the biggest fight of the year, as 2023 gets underway.
Despite the likelihood of an undisputed heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, an all-American blockbuster involving Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia and even whispers of Anthony Joshua versus Deontay Wilder, Hearn opted for a fight that fell through in 2022.
Hearn still believes a fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr will be the “biggest” fight of the year.
A clash between the two sons of boxing legends would be the third instalment of a unique trilogy, following on from their family’s historic rivalry.
The two were supposed to fight one another back in October, but the fight was ‘postponed’ after Benn failed two drug tests.
In an interview with iFL TV, Hearn said:
“I believe that Conor Benn’s career will resume and when that will be, whether that is April, whether that is June/July, we will see him back in the ring this year. I have every confidence in that and you will see him, in my opinion, fight Chris Eubank Jr., in the biggest fight of the year.”
The promoter went on to admit that Benn could end up applying for a license through a different body, rather than through the British Boxing Board of Control.
“Ultimately, any commission that we apply for a licence with, I would want them to see the report, because the work has been done. There has been a huge amount of money spent on that report, to make sure that Conor Benn can clear his name and that the truth can come out. I want people to see that.”
“He might not want to apply for a British Boxing Board of Control license. Some people, Tyson Fury is a good example, who had a dispute with the board and decided he doesn’t want to box under a BBBofC licence, many people have. I would always like a British fighter to fight under a British licence, but ultimately, it is their decision, some things happen, arguments happen and ego’s get in the way.”
