The British Boxing Board of Control have reportedly rejected Conor Benn‘s application to take on Chris Eubank Jnr.
The two were set to cross paths in a titanic bout last year, before a positive test for clomifene was returned by Benn to the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association, with the fight duly called off.
He would later be charged by UK Anti-Doping in April 2023, which threatened a two-year suspension after returning a second positive test.
The British fighter then appeared to confirm that a fight was on the cards at last, igniting another war of words and promising to ‘end’ Eubank Jnr’s career, although this latest setback could once again scupper plans.
Benn was cleared to fight in the UK just three months later, before it emerged that both The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) and UKAD would appeal this decision.
Conor Benn’s (right) application to face Chris Eubank Jnr has reportedly been rejected by the British Boxing Board of Control
It is this appeal that is reportedly holding up the BBBC’s decision to allow the fight to go ahead.
Michael Benson reports that the application has been rejected while the appeal in Benn’s UKAD case is ongoing.
‘The board feel any athlete who has failed a drugs test needs to go through an investigation with the proper authorities and that hasn’t happened,’ BBBC’s Robert Smith is reported to have said.
A fight had been close to being finalised for February 3 to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as Mail Sport exclusively revealed earlier this week.
While both parties had been putting together plans for a bout, the British Boxing Board of Control’s approval was always the key obstacle to any clash materialising.
UKAD are pursuing an appeal against the decision taken in July by in the independent National Anti-Doping panel to lift the fighter’s temporary suspension.
The 26-year-old has maintained his innocence and spent ‘hundreds and thousands’ on scientists to clear his name after traces of clomiphene were found in his samples.
Benn and Eubank had initially signed to fight last October before the showdown was scrapped when Benn’s two positive tests for clomifene came to light.
He made his comeback in a low-key fight in the US in September.
Eddie Hearn, earlier this month, said that the fight was likely to take place this month, after previously revealing hopes the fight could take place in December or January.
The Matchroom Boxing promoter told iFL TV last month: ‘Our side with Conor Benn and the side of Kalle Sauerland and Chris Eubank want to move forward and make that fight.
‘We feel that because of the situation with Conor Benn’s suspension being lifted and winning that case that he should be allowed and able to fight in the UK.
‘We’re speaking to the British Boxing Board of Control. We think legally there’s no reason why he shouldn’t be allowed to fight in the UK but it’s their decision.’
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