Ringside in Philadelphia this weekend, Conor Benn announced he was back and ready for big fights without a warm-up.
Benn defeated Peter Dobson in Las Vegas in February, five months after outscoring Rodolfo Orozco in Orlando.
He has not boxed in the UK since his April 2022 win over Chris van Heerden but had been due to fight Chris Eubank later in the year before anti-doping tests revealed clomifene in his system. A long, high-priced legal wrangle ensued, with Benn claiming innocence every step of the way.
“It’s completely over. It’s been a blessing for me to say I’ve been cleared of any wrongdoing, not once, not twice but three times and I’m excited to get my career back on the road,” he told DAZN in Philadelphia. “It’s been a long time coming, it’s been a long two years. I’ve been through hell and back, but I’m ready to remind everyone why I’m the best 147 on the planet. And I’m ready to prove that.
“For me personally I want a world title, the WBC world title, that’s the winner of [Mario] Barrios and [Abel] Ramos. That’s the fight I really want. If Jaron Ennis wants to fight at 147, I’m, No. 2, he’s No. 1, we can get that on. You want to challenge yourself against the best. Anyone who’s got the belts, I want it.
“If [Chris] Eubank wants it and he really wants it and he doesn’t muck about, he can get it. I’ll come up to 160, give him a good beating, drop back down to 147 and fight for the world titles. I’m confident in that fight not going past four rounds.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn said he was similarly excited to welcome Benn back into the mix, and he hoped to be able to land Benn a championship fight – and possibly in England.
“This man refused to go down an easy route and try an accept a punishment that he didn’t deserve and didn’t warrant, and he’s stayed true to the cause, and it’s probably cost him a bit of time, but in the end, to be fully-cleared, is a fantastic result,” said Hearn. “That’s all in the past now.”
Last week, the British Boxing Board of Control issued a statement that read: “The British Boxing Board of Control is aware that Conor Benn issued a public statement on 6th November 2024, in relation to proceedings between UK Anti-Doping and him. The BBBofC refers to the statement published in response by UKAD at Statement from UK Anti-Doping regarding Conor Benn/UK Anti-Doping. We are considering our position. All enquiries regarding this matter should be directed to UK Anti-Doping.”
UKAD had responded to Benn’s announcement that he had been cleared last week with a spokesman saying: “UKAD notes that professional boxer Mr Conor Benn has made public comments today regarding the outcome of proceedings before the independent National Anti-Doping Panel. UKAD can confirm that it received the decision of the independent National Anti-Doping Panel this afternoon. The Panel concluded that it was ‘not comfortably satisfied’ that UKAD had proved that Mr Benn had committed an Anti-Doping Rule Violation for the Use of clomifene. The Provisional Suspension previously in place has been lifted and the charge against him has been consequently dismissed.
“UKAD will now carefully review the Panel’s decision in accordance with its appeal rights under the UK Anti-Doping Rules.”
Read the full article here
