Outraged, pleased or indifferent may be the varying reactions to unbeaten welterweight Conor Benn being cleared to fight again.
To most, what matters most is that England’s Benn will fight again two years after failing two tests for the banned performance-enhancing substance clomiphene, a women’s fertility drug that can increase testosterone levels. Though he’s fought twice since those tests, it does feel like the saga is at an end.
Soon after the National Anti-Doping Panel lifted Benn’s suspension November 6, he tabbed powerful manager Keith Connolly to head his management team and is moving toward the possibility of a string of major bouts, including the showdown with another son of a prominent world champion, Chris Eubank Jnr, whom Benn was due to fight before the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association secured the two negative tests from the 28-year-old Benn, 23-0 (14 KOs).
Earlier this year, Benn and Manny Pacquiao met in Saudi Arabia at a Riyadh Season pre-fight event, and Pacquiao told BoxingScene he was intrigued with returning to meet Nigel Benn’s son.
But Conor Benn couldn’t gain the clearance he’s won now, and Pacquiao proceeded to look flat in an exhibition fight.
Benn’s union with Connolly is seen as an opportunity to time this critical juncture in his career with a man who has proven to successfully lobby Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn for big fights.
Connolly this year landed then-unbeaten super-middleweight Edgar Berlanga a title shot at Canelo Alvarez, and previously took heavyweight Filip Hrgovic to a meeting with current IBF heavyweight champion Filip Hrgovic.
Benn is likely returning to the ring in the first quarter of 2025, according to an individual familiar with the situation, and intends to go “straight into a big fight,” the official said.
In addition to the Eubank Jnr possibility, Benn is interested in taking a crack at WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios should he win as expected Friday night in his native Texas against Abel Ramos.
Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney are also on Benn’s radar.
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