November 29th 2023.
The long-awaited grudge match between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn was set to take place last October, but the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) has denied Benn's application to fight Eubank Jr in the UK until the appeal process has been completed.
This week, reports have suggested that the fight between the two sons of British boxing royalty may finally be on the brink of being agreed, with the fight scheduled to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on February 3rd.
The two fighters appeared to confirm the fight was on for that date in a series of social media exchanges. However, the BBBC is not sanctioning the fight to take place in the UK until the drug test saga has been resolved.
BBBC General Secretary Robert Smith spoke to talkSPORT about the situation: “The Board feel that any athlete, not just a boxer, but any athlete who has failed a drugs test needs to go through an investigation with the proper authorities and that hasn't happened. We’re waiting for that to happen and the Boxing Board and UKAD have been pushing for that to happen right from the beginning of this and unfortunately it’s been delayed.”
Benn has consistently denied any wrongdoing and was cleared by the World Boxing Council earlier this year. In August, the independent National Anti-Doping Panel issued a ruling to lift his suspension, but the BBBC and UK Anti-Doping have both lodged an appeal against that decision.
It is unclear who will hold the appeal, with reports suggesting it could reach the Court of Arbitration for Sport. More details to follow.
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