Eddie Hearn has revealed that there is ‘huge desire’ from both Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jnr’s camps to make a fight happen this year.
The promoter is hoping a blockbuster bout between the two will happen on December 23 in Cardiff, despite Benn not having a licence to fight in the UK currently.
Eubank Jnr and Benn had been set to renew an old family feud stretching back decades. They were due to face each other in October last year for a much-anticipated bout. However, on the eve of the fight it was revealed by Mail Sport that Benn had twice tested positive for the banned substance clomifene in the build up to the fight.
The promoters of both fighters tried to keep the fight on, but when lawyers failed to obtain a High Court injunction the fight was shelved – leaving fans somewhat disappointed.
Benn has since been cleared to fight following the verdict of the UK Anti-Doping’s (UKAD) investigation into his failed drug tests last year. However, multiple sources told Mail Sport last month that both UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control triggered their right to contest the decision of the independent National Anti-Doping Panel.
There is hope Conor Benn (right) vs Chris Eubank Jnr (left) will happen this year
Promoter Eddie Hearn wants it to be in Cardiff, despite Benn not having a licence to fight in UK
As a result, it remains to be seen whether Benn – who has maintained his innocence and spent ‘hundreds and thousands’ on scientists to clear his name after traces of clomiphene were found in his samples – can fight in the UK at present.
But despite the uncertainty surrounding Benn’s UK licence, Hearn insists both camps are eager to make their encounter finally become a reality.
‘We have every intention to make it happen,’ Hearn told BBC Radio 5 live.
‘Our side with Conor Benn and the side of Kalle Sauerland and Chris Eubank want to move forward and make that fight,’ Hearn said.
‘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 obviously it’s their decision.’
Hearn suggested that Cardiff’s Principality Stadium could be the venue to host the blockbuster fight that that Anthony Joshua could also feature on the card.
‘If we are not allowed to do that, we will hold the fight internationally but our preference of course is to bring that big fight to Britain,’ he added.
Hearn suggested that Anthony Joshua (pictured) could also feature on the card
Benn (left) beat little-known Mexican Rodolfo Orozco in Florida on his return to the ring, weeks after Eubank Jnr (right) impressively dispatched Liam Smith in their rematch
‘We also have a rather large heavyweight called Anthony Joshua who’s saying: “Look, if I’m not fighting Deontay Wilder in January, I would quite like to fight in December as well.” So we’re trying to work it all out but quite frankly I think it’s very unlikely that we don’t have a show on 23 December.
‘Is it going to feature all of them, is it going to feature one of them? I don’t know, but there’s a huge desire from both camps of Benn/Eubank to make that fight for 23 December.’
Last month, Benn beat little-known Mexican Rodolfo Orozco in Florida on his return to the ring since the lifting of his provisional doping suspension.
It came weeks after Eubank Jnr impressively dispatched Liam Smith in their rematch.