Promoter Eddie Hearn is delighted that welterweight Conor Benn has been cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel to continue his career. Hearn says Benn told him he wants the “biggest fight” for his comeback.
Considering how shaky Benn looked in his last two fights against Peter Dobson and Rodolfo Orozco, it makes sense that he would want the “biggest fight” he could get. Benn has struggled with poor decisions in those two fights and hasn’t shown the energy he once had when his career was in good shape prior to his clomiphene suspension.
Welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) is suspended from March 2023 to test positive for Clomiphene. However, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) could still appeal, which could keep 28-year-old Benn on the shelf for a long time.
In an interview with Matchroom, Hearn listed these fighters as options for Benn in his comeback fight:
Chris Eubank Jr.
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
Mario Barrio
Eimantas Stanionis
Benn is a puncher with a 60.7% KO rate, but has never fought a top welterweight. His knockouts have come against smaller players.
“It has been completely cleared of any wrongdoing after a thorough NAPD hearing. The journey can now continue. It feels like the beginning,” said promoter Eddie Hearn on Matchroom Boxing, talking about Conor Benn who was cleared by the National Anti-Doping team.
Benn is still unclear because UKAD may appeal the case again, which could keep him out of the fight. If Benn is free to fight, Hearn and his team should choose the best because there is a good chance that he won’t lose if he fights for the world title at 147 or 154. Benn’s best wins before his suspension were against older fighters. Chris Algieri, Adrian Granados, and Chris Van Heerden. Benn had never fought any of the skilled competitors at 147, and was still fighting at home level.
“This is almost like we’ve got a new boxer who has already established himself as one of the biggest stars in British boxing who is ready, ready, to attack the game,” Hearn continued about Benn.
Hearn plays fast and loose that Benn is “one of the biggest stars in British boxing,” as he was undefeated during his eight-year professional career to be named a “star.” If we’re going to be calling prospects like Benn a “star,” it’s kind of it makes it cheaper.
He is just a prospect, but if you give him a high label, you can call him a “home level” fighter. Prospect is fit, but he’s older. Benn will be turning 29 in 2025, and that creates hope.
“We’re back in business, and this is going to be an amazing comeback,” Hearn said. “It was a big shot in the arm for Conor Benn, for Matchroom Boxing, for DAZN, but also for British boxing. You’re talking about the biggest names in sports right now, and this guy is right up there. He comes back with anger, brutality, and violence and is ready to entertain the boxing world.
“We can rebuild with a big fight back at the O2 and move up to the challenge of the world championship at 147kg. We can jump right into the world record of 147 shots against Boots, Barrios, or Stanionis. We can move up to middleweight and fight Chris Eubank Jr. in the biggest fight in British boxing,” said Hearn.
Benn’s next big fight is against middleweight contender Eubank Jr. the next Briton, and Hearn should be well aware of that. It would be too risky for Benn to challenge one of the welterweight champions like Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, Eimantas Stanionis, or Mario Barios due to the high chances of him losing.
Benn, 28, lacks the experience and pedigree to fight for a world title, mainly because he hasn’t been in the ring for long. Although Benn has fought twice since his suspension defeating Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson, they were not world class fighters. Even before Benn’s suspension, which began in March 2023, he was only a potential real contender. Benn’s best win before his suspension for testing positive for the banned PED was twice against 38-year-old Chris Algieri and 35-year-old Chris Van Heerden.
“Strategy is now the key. That’s why you sit down with the team, Tony Sims, Conor, and Matchroom, and plan for the future. Conor’s instructions to me right now are, ‘Give me the biggest fight you can give me,’” Hearn said.
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