WITH the news that Conor Benn is now cleared to fight in the UK, his promoter Eddie Hearn can look to the future and plan big fights for the 26-year-old.
Today (Friday) on social media the British welterweight released a statement to announce his career can resume. This comes after UKAD officially cleared him to box after Benn had initially failed two drug tests for the banned substance clomifene in 2022.
A 10-month process played out in the media and in various hearings is now at an end to the relief of Benn and his promoter Eddie Hearn.
“Hopefully the public and various members of the media can now understand why I have maintained my innocence so strongly all the way through,” Benn said in his statement.
While Hearn, in an interview on Matchroom’s YouTube channel, said, “It’s been a brutal, painful year of work and belief and decisions to back an individual that we believed. I can’t wait to see him fight.”
Prior to the test findings just days before Benn was due to fight Chris Eubank Jr the career of the Londoner looked a promising one. Now ‘The Destroyer’ will hope to be return to the sanctioning bodies top 10 where he was highly ranked under a year ago.
Benn will now need to re-apply for his British Boxing Board of Control licence to officially fight in Great Britain.
Despite his absence from the sport, Benn was continually linked with a rescheduled bout against Eubank. Those hopes are now officially over as Eubank looks to gain revenge on Liam Smith in their September rematch.
“Maybe he has a slightly smaller fight first. He’s been out the ring a year and a half,” Hearn said about Benn’s return.
“We’ll decide what’s right for him. From a fighter’s progression point of view, I like him coming back and having that fight in September and then going into a huge fight in December.”
Speculation in recent weeks has linked Benn to fights against Kell Brook and Josh Taylor.
“Two fights I love,” Hearn said.
“Love the Kell Brook fight. Love the Josh Taylor fight. Love the Chris Eubank fight. Conor Benn is a young man with a big career ahead of him.”
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