A social media post from Chris Eubank Jr back in August can perhaps be looked at now, given all we know, as a veiled statement of what was to come.
Eubank’s fight with Conor Benn was just days away when the British Boxing Board of Control prohibited it. They did so following news that Benn had been found to have a banned substance in his system in the lead up to the fight. As the story has developed, Benn himself has confirmed that it wasn’t the first time.
In a recent round of media interviews, Benn confirmed that he first tested positive for Clomiphene – a drug that can raise testosterone levels in men – on July 25 of this year. The press conference to announce the event was held on August 12, and it’s unclear when, or even if, Eubank’s team were informed of the first test.
An Instagram post from Eubank Jr on August 27 now has some fans thinking that he did indeed know, whether through official means or from behind the scenes discussions.
With differing accounts of who knew what when, it’s not out of the realms of possibility that Eubank Jr’s post was about a little more than just an unannounced testing visit. Certainly since the fall out, the Brighton born fighter has put out some messages that seem to address Benn’s situation. Although, like many things in this case, we may never know.
Conor Benn is expected to mount a case of contamination in an attempt to clear his name in the minds’ of fans and the British Boxing Board of Control. We await news from him or his team with more information surrounding the failed tests.
As for his former (almost) opponent, he’s rumoured to be getting back out in December with Liam Smith a potential opponent. Having said that, and despite Eubank’s desire to get a fight in this side of the new year, if there’s not an announcement this week it looks much more likely that he’ll be out in 2023.