Chris Eubank Jr has spoken for the first time since his fight with Conor Benn was officially called off on Thursday.
This weekend’s highly anticipated clash between the pair was plunged into doubt on Wednesday, after Sportsmail broke the bombshell news that Benn had tested positive for banned substance clomifene.
Co-promoters Eddie Hearn and Kalle Sauerland – as well as both Eubank Jr and Benn – on Wednesday insisted they still planned for the fight to go ahead, which sources reiterated to Sportsmail on Thursday morning.
However on Thursday afternoon, confirmation came through that the fight was officially off.
And Eubank Jr took to Twitter to comment on the news soon afterwards.
He tweeted: ‘Conor got caught using an illegal substance so the fight is off. Can’t believe it. I really apologise to the fans & everyone that bought tickets, traveled & booked hotels, this should not of happened. He has escaped his schooling… for now.’
Eubank Jr’s tweet received more than 1,000 retweets and 10,000 likes within 30 minutes.
Despite the co-promoters claiming the bout would still go ahead, there were several question marks over how it would actually take place following an announcement from the British Boxing Board of Control stating the bout was prohibited from taking place.
Hearn’s Matchroom company challenged the Board’s refusal to sanction the fight, with the promoter insisting ‘there’s no reason, in terms of suspension, or violations, the fight should not take place’.
This weekend’s fight between Chris Eubank Jr (left) and Conor Benn (right) is officially off
Eubank Jr took to Twitter on Thursday to comment on the news that his fight with Benn was off
Benn tested positive for banned substance clomifene in the build-up to the mega-fight
However, following extensive legal talks on Thursday afternoon, the decision to call off the bout was finally made.
Matchroom confirmed the news, revealing the bout is ‘postponed’ and insisting the Board’s decision to withdraw their sanctioning was ‘procedurally flawed and without due process’.
The Matchroom statement read: ‘After discussions with various parties, we have taken the decision to formally postpone the bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn.
‘It is undeniable that the British Boxing Board of Control’s decision to withdraw their sanctioning was procedurally flawed and without due process. That remains a legal issue between the promoters and the Board which we intend to pursue.
Matchroom confirmed that the fight has been ‘postponed’ on Thursday afternoon, revealing news on ticket refunds will follow
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn had remained adamant the fight should still go ahead
‘However, whilst there are legal routes to facilitate the fight taking place as planned, we do not believe that it is in the fighters’ interests for those to be pursued at such a late stage, or in the wider interests of the sport.
‘As promoters, we take our obligations and duties very seriously, and a full investigation will now need to take place. We will be making no further comment at this time and news for ticket holder refunds will follow.’
The fight, as well as being a legacy bout, also carried a huge financial incentive, with tens of millions of pounds now lost. Both Eubank Jr and Benn were on six-figure purses.
The banned substance, clomifene, is designed primarily to aid women in fertility, but it is also known to provide steroid boosts for muscle development and rapid recovery from training among other benefits.
Yet Hearn, after the adverse findings were revealed to the public, insisted Benn could not be suspended by the Board and that the fight should go ahead as planned.
Sportsmail’s Riath Al-Samarrai broke the exclusive of Benn’s positive drugs test on Wednesday
Eubank Jr was present at Wednesday’s public workout and insisted he was still willing to fight
That’s because the test Benn failed was by VADA, but the British Boxing Board of Control is governed by the UK Anti-Doping Agency, who are typically contracted by the boxers and promoters for a five-figure fee prior to a fight.
The 26-year-old, according to Hearn, passed all doping control tests by UKAD – including one taken after the adverse finding.
With anticipation legal manoeuvres against the Board could fall short, there were figures involved in the fight who were open to pursuing options with a foreign sanctioning body – multiple sources have said as many as three would be under consideration – but Hearn shot down that possibility on Thursday.
Hearn told Sportsmail: ‘We have no desire to use a foreign authority.’
Hearn subsequently tweeted: ‘Let’s see what today brings but to make one thing clear, I will not be promoting this fight with a foreign commission or alternative governing body on Saturday night.’
His comments followed claims from multiple sources that the fight was ‘near certain’ to go ahead.
That has now proven not to be the case, however, following the cancellation of the fight on Thursday afternoon.
Benn, who appeared at Wednesday’s public workout despite the circumstances, protested his innocence.
He said: ‘I wanted to say this personally. You guys have read what the Daily Mail published about me today and I want you guys to hear it personally from me rather than read it in a statement from me and my team.
‘I’ve not committed any violations, I’ve not been suspended so as far as I’m concerned the fight’s still going ahead.
‘I’ve spoken to Chris personally and we both want the fight to go ahead. We’ve both taken medical and legal advice and we both want the fight to happen for the fans.’
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