The boxing world is holding its breath as the possibility of a rescheduled blockbuster fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr hangs in the balance. After being provisionally suspended due to failed drug tests, Benn’s path back to the ring has taken a significant step forward. The independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) has lifted his suspension, paving the way for a potential return to the boxing ring.
However, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) still holds the key to Benn’s future. His licence, which is required to fight in Britain, is yet to be reinstated. The BBBoC has not yet commented on the situation, and it remains unclear whether they will grant Benn the permission he needs to fight again. UK Anti-Doping also has the right to appeal the NADP’s decision.
Promoter Ben Shalom, however, remains optimistic about the fight’s prospects. In a statement to Sky Sports, Shalom expressed his belief that the highly anticipated clash will go ahead if Benn is given the green light to fight in Britain. “If he gets his licence then I believe that fight is on,” he stated. “He needs a British licence and it’s one of the biggest fights in British boxing, if not the biggest to me. We know the history of that fight, we know why we’re here, we know why there’s so much animosity between them. Without the licence, the fight probably won’t happen.”
Shalom also highlighted the potential for a stadium-filling event if the fight were to take place on home soil rather than in Saudi Arabia. “For me, it sells out a stadium,” he said. “It’s one of the biggest fights that you can do in the UK. So I think it will have to be significant for the fighters not to want to do it in the UK. I’m sure it’s a fight that will interest Riyadh season and his Excellency, just because there just aren’t many fights that come close to the magnitude of that one.”
While Benn’s suspension has been lifted, the road to a showdown with Eubank Jr is still riddled with uncertainties. The BBBoC’s decision will ultimately determine the fate of this highly anticipated rematch, and the boxing world is eagerly waiting to see if this explosive clash will finally come to fruition. The animosity between the two fighters, stemming from their fathers’ legendary rivalry, has only fueled the public’s interest in this matchup. Should the stars align and Benn’s licence be restored, the world will be treated to a boxing spectacle of epic proportions.
