British welterweight Conor Benn continues to be haunted by problems trying to be cleared to fight in the UK following his two positive drug tests in 2022 for the banned drug clomifene.
Today’s bad news for the 27-year-old Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) involves the UK Anti-Doping [UKAD] agency once again provisionally suspending him after they won their appeal against the NADP’s decision to lift his suspension. They had cleared Benn to continue his career, but that’s no longer happening now.
Implications for Benn’s Career
With Matchroom-promoted Conor Benn’s suspension being reinstated, it’s a big disappointment for him, his team, and promoter Eddie Hearn. This means Benn won’t be able to fight in the UK, which is where his core fan base is located.
It leaves Benn in a situation where he’ll need to continue fighting in the U.S, likely in front of small crowds. Benn hasn’t been able to win over the American fans like he did with the UK fans, as U.S fans aren’t in awe of him being the son of British legend Nigel Benn.
American casual boxing fans have never heard of Nigel Benn, so they’re not interested in Conor Benn’s career the way the UK fans are. But here’s the thing: Even if Nigel was from the U.S, American fans still wouldn’t be as amped up to watch Conor Benn fight as they do in the UK. It’s a different country.
In the U.S, you actually got to prove yourself and you can’t depend on a famous dad to gain a following like in the UK. For example, Muhammad Ali’s grandson Nico Ali Walsh doesn’t have a huge following in the U.S. despite being connected with the great.
UKAD will continue their investigation of Benn before they eventually have a hearing on his case. The good news for Benn is that he can stay busy fighting in the U.S until he’s eventually free allowed to fight in the UK.
If Benn continues to look as lackluster as he has recently, it might not matter when he’s eventually cleared to fight in the UK. He’s looked poor in his two fights in the U.S against Peter Dobson and Rodolfo Orozco.
Many boxing fans have noticed that the punching power that Benn had shown in fights against Chris Algieri, Samuel Vargas, and Chris Van Heerden is now gone. Benn now looks as weak and vulnerable as he had when he was struggling to beat second-tier fighter Cedrick Peynaud in 2018.
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