Promoter Eddie Hearn is excited about welterweight Conor Benn being cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel to resume his career. Hearn says Benn told him he wants the “Biggest fight possible” 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 can get. Benn labored to unimpressive decisions in those two fights and showed none of the power he’d previously had when his career was in good shape before his suspension for clomifene.
The welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) had been suspended since March 2023 for testing positive for Clomifene. However, the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) could still appeal, which may keep the 28-year-old Benn on the shelf longer.
In an interview with Matchroom, Hearn listed these fighters as Benn’s options for his comeback fight:
Chris Eubank Jr.
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
Mario Barrio
Eimantas Stanionis
Benn is a good puncher with a 60.7% KO rate, but he’s never fought a top-rated welterweight. His knockouts have come against lesser fighters.
“Fully cleared of any wrongdoing after a full NAPD hearing. The journey can now continue. It feels like the beginning,” said promoter Eddie Hearn to Matchroom Boxing, talking about Conor Benn being cleared by the National Anti-Doping panel.
Benn still isn’t clear because UKAD may appeal again, which could keep him from fighting. If Benn is free to fight, Hearn and his team must make the best choice possible because there’s a high chance he’d lose if he fights for a world title at 147 or 154. Benn’s best wins before his suspension were against older non-contenders Chris Algieri, Adrian Granados, and Chris Van Heerden. Benn had never fought any of the talented contenders at 147, and he was still essentially fighting at the domestic level.
“This almost feels like we’ve got a new fighter who is already kind of like self-made as one of the biggest stars in British boxing that is ready, that is poised, to attack the game,” Hearn continued about Benn.
Hearn is playing fast and loose by saying that Benn is “one of the biggest stars in British boxing,” as he’s not beaten anyone during his eight-year professional career to be labeled a “star.” If we’re going to be calling prospects like Benn a “star,” it kind of cheapens it.
He’s really just a prospect, but if you give him a higher label, you can call him a “domestic-level” fighter. Prospect is more fitting, but he’s an older one. Benn will be turning 29 in 2025, and that’s old for a prospect.
“We’re back in business, and this is going to be an incredible comeback,” said Hearn. “It’s a massive shot in the arm for Conor Benn, for Matchroom Boxing, for DAZN, but also for British boxing. You talk about big names in the sport right now, and this young man is right up there. He’s coming back with anger, ferocity, and violence and is ready to entertain the boxing world.
“We can rebuild with a big comeback fight at the O2 and move into a challenging position for a world championship at 147 pounds. We can jump straight into a world title shot at 147 against Boots, Barrios, or Stanionis. We can step up to middleweight and fight Chris Eubank Jr. in the biggest fight in British boxing,” said Hearn
The biggest fight available for Benn is a British clash against middleweight contender Eubank Jr. next, and Hearn has got to 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 because of the high probability of him losing.
Benn, 28, lacks the experience and pedigree to fight for a world title, especially with his long absence from the ring. Although Benn had fought twice since being suspended, defeating Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson, they were not world-class fighters. Even before Benn was suspended, which began in March 2023, he was just a prospect and not a true contender. Benn’s best wins before his suspension for testing positive twice for the banned PED Clomifene were 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 you plot out the future. Conor’s instructions for me at the moment are, ‘Give me the biggest fight you can possibly give me,’” said Hearn.
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