Frank Warren has this week lambasted the possibility of Conor Benn returning the ring, describing the possibility of the young star getting back in action without an official verdict from UKAD as “nonsense.”
Benn’s career was turned upside down last October ahead of his scheduled bout with Chris Eubank Jr, when news broke on fight week that he had returned positive VADA test for the banned substance, Clomifene. Weeks later, it emerged he had failed a separate test earlier in the summer.
Speaking to Boxing Social at the press conference for Artur Beterbiev vs Anthony Yarde, the Queensberry boss pulled no punches in his assessment of the current state of affairs regarding Benn.
“How can they let him fight without a hearing? That’s nonsense and if that happens, then there’s something wrong.”
“Who’s going to license him? Where’s he going to get a license? He’s given up his board license – he was suspended anyway – and they can’t license him unless UKAD have a hearing.”
Further criticism was aired the way of the 25 year old this week, when the British Board claimed that a UKAD investigation into the case had been held up due to a lack of cooperation from the fighter and his team.
Promoter Eddie Hearn stated in recent interviews that plans to get Benn back in the ring would be undertaken soon, and WBC president admitted that he was not serving a ban and was therefore free to fight.
Without a British Boxing Board of Control license, ‘The Destroyer’ would likely be forced to fight abroad and speculation has been rife that he will return in late spring / early summer on one of Matchroom’s international cards.