Conor Benn will be licenced to fight Chris Eubank Jnr by the British Boxing Board of Control, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
The 28-year-old Benn’s licence was removed by the governing body of the sport in the UK as a consequence of his failing two drugs tests for the banned substance clomifene.
Benn, who has consistently maintained his innocence, last fought in Britain in April 2022 when he stopped Chris van Heerden. His date with Eubank Jnr, later that year was cancelled because of the positive tests he recorded. They are scheduled to instead fight on April 26 at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
He had remained ineligible to fight in the UK until November, when the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) lifted his suspension on the grounds that it was “not comfortably satisfied” that UK Anti-Doping (UKAD), with whom he had tested positive, had proved that he had committed a doping offence.
A provisional suspension had been lifted by the NADP in July 2023, but was later reinstated following a successful appeal by the Board and UKAD, contributing to Benn fighting and winning in the US against Rodolfo Orozco that September, and against Peter Dobson in February 2024.
“Robert Smith – when I spoke to Robert Smith the other day, Conor Benn will fight under a British Boxing Board of Control licence,” said Matchroom’s Hearn. Robert Smith is the Board’s general secretary.
“We have carried that process through. Very important to know.”
