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“I Didn’t Believe Him”: Eddie Hearn Confident That Conor Benn Will Be Exonerated

Published 07/27/2023, 2:37 PM EDT

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Conor Benn and Eddie Hearn have faced a ten-month ordeal, enduring incessant testing, which Benn compared to a “witch-hunt.” The cause was Benn’s positive clomifene test just before his much-anticipated fight with Chris Eubank Jr. Worth noting, their fathers, Nigel Benn, and Chris Eubank Sr., had previously contested twice, with Eubank Sr. winning the first bout and the second ending in a split draw.

Regrettably, Benn had to surrender his boxing license which led to him receiving a lot of criticism. Even though Benn has already submitted a 270-page report to World Boxing Council (WBC), things aren’t looking too good for him. Moreover, he recently even called for doctors’ help to prove his innocence. However, Benn is still not in the clear. Recently his promoter Eddie Hearn came out and stated that he believes UKAD will exonerate Benn.

Eddie Hearn opens up about the Conor Benn situation

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Conor Benn faces potential UKAD ban despite Benn investing in scientists to prove innocence. Initially doubting Benn, Eddie Hearn now believes he will be exonerated. Benn’s journey from Australia to the UK, alone, striving to make his name in boxing, impressed Hearn. In a recent interview with Piers Morgan, he reiterated his trust in the young boxer.

The promoter pointed out the phrase, “Guilty until proven innocent.” Hearn stated, “The amount of times I’ve sat with this young man in my office and watch him break down in tears on the floor. For me to question him. I didn’t believe him initially.”

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Highlighting cooperation with VADA and adherence to procedures, Hearn is optimistic about a positive outcome. Hearn added, “‘Everyone was saying he needs to go through UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control. He turned around and he went, okay I’ll do that as well.”

He hopes people grasp the ordeal Benn endured. It seems that Benn’s sincerity has managed to win Hearn’s trust and he believes that the result will be in Benn’s favor.

Benn loses his WBC title amid the whole fiasco

The controversy surrounding Conor Benn’s WBC ratings returns due to unresolved issues with UKAD and his British boxing license. Benn’s prolonged inactivity resulted in his removal from WBC rankings, and a return date remains uncertain. WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman cited 15-month inactivity as the cause, but an appeal could rectify his ranking situation in an interview with Sky Sports. Previously, the WBC reinstated Benn, acknowledging his explanation of consuming a significant amount of eggs for the failed test.

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Benn disagreed with some aspects of the WBC’s statement, feeling frustrated by baseless negative speculation. He stated, “The manner in which I’ve been cleared has seemed to create further questions and add further fuel to baseless negative speculation.”

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Since April 2022, Benn has been absent from the ring after defeating Chris van Heerden. Chris Eubank Jr. moved on from the Benn saga, facing a defeat against Liam Smith in January. Their rematch is scheduled on September 2 at the AO Arena in Manchester. What do you think about the situation? Do share your thoughts in the comments.

Watch This Story: 5 Most Exciting British Boxers You Didn’t Know About 

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Written by:

Chirag Radhyan

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Chirag Radhyan is a Boxing Writer at EssentiallySports. He has authored over 300 articles and loves to talk about the animosity between athletes, leading up to a fight. His coverage of the off-court drama between Jake Paul and Tommy Fury received widespread appreciation from readers.
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Edited by:

Arijit Saha