Drama in the Ring: Eubank-Benn Bout on Hold as Sanctions Loom
The Eubank vs. Benn brawl is rumbling towards a showdown on February 3, but there's a snag – the British Boxing Council's giving it the cold shoulder.
In the latest round of the fight saga, Michael Benson's spilling the beans: "It looks like Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. are gearing up for a February 3, 2024, clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Promoter Hearn's on the verge of sealing the deal, with Eubank Jr. ready to ink the contract. But it's not a done deal yet" - says Benson.
However, there's a curveball from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC). General Secretary Robert Smith's throwing a punch at the plans: "Listen up, any athlete who flunks a dope test should be on the ropes for a thorough grilling. And that's not happened yet. We're itching for it, with the Boxing Council and UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) in our corner, pushing since day one. But there's been some foot-dragging, not from our side or UKAD's. As for Benn's UK bout? We nixed his application. They can hype up whatever they want, but they've gotta dance to the right tune with the authorities first," Smith claps back.
Rewind to early 2023: the Benn-Eubank fight was all set until Benn's test came back dirty. Meanwhile, Eubank Jr. took a technical knockout from Liam Smith but bounced back with a knockout win in their rematch. Benn's been out of the ring since the test fiasco.