By Barry Holbrook: Conor Benn spoke up today on social media, thanking God for “science” and saying that “evidence doesn’t lie.” All this without Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) still not having been cleared of his two positive tests for the banned drug clomifene.
In response to Benn’s post, Chris Eubank Jr remarked that it was “science” that discovered Conor’s two positive tests for drugs. Eubank Jr says that if not for science, he would have fought the “Hulk” last October.
What’s interesting is that WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman says Benn is free to fight, and he’s not suspended. However, with Benn, 26, having given up his boxing license in the UK, it would put him in a situation where he would need to fight outside of the country.
If Benn fights in the U.S, he won’t draw flies because he’s not a household name in the States, and the only way he would attract a large crowd is if he fought a popular welterweight like Errol Spence Jr, Terence Crawford, Jaron Ennis or Vergil Ortiz Jr. Given that Benn is a greenhorn lacking in experience, he isn’t ready for those types of fighters.
“Well, if Eddie is saying that, he must know something that we don’t because obviously, we haven’t had any updates about what’s going on with Conor Benn in the situation. It’s also gone quiet,” said Spence Oliver to iFL TV when told that Eddie Hearn says that Conor Benn will definitely fight in 2023. They’re looking at opponents like Chris Eubank Jr, Manny Pacquiao, and Kell Brook
I’m pretty sure it was science that detected the illegal substances in your system on two separate occasions Conor. So yes absolutely thank god for science… otherwise I would of been fighting the hulk a few months ago!! pic.twitter.com/Pa7yArmdHC
— Chris Eubank Jr (@ChrisEubankJr) January 16, 2023
For Benn to be so confident that his name is going to be cleared, he must have some strong proof of contamination done with the testing by VADA.
“He said before Christmas that he’s proven his innocence and he’s going to go away and have a nice Christmas, and he was going to come back and let us all know,” said Oliver. “There’s still no word from Conor. Let’s see what happens. Let’s see what comes out, but as it stands, he’s failed two tests.
“I don’t know the legal side of it. It’s difficult for me to comment. As it stands, he’s failed two tests. Where does he go from here? I know he relinquished his license. Let’s just say he receives a six-month ban, and he serves that six months through the inactivity from the last fight.
“What does that mean? That he’s served his time, but he still hasn’t got his license here [UK], does he? So where does he go? Does he go box in the States or what?
“I really don’t understand, really, because I haven’t been following it too much. All I know, as it stands, is that he’s failed those tests, so let’s see what happens. You can’t talk about him fighting other fighters and talking about Manny Pacquiao, Eubank Jr again?
“How can you talk about that when we’re in the situation that we’re in? Let’s get this all cleared up first, and then talk about Conor Benn and his comeback. But until then, I find it difficult to be able to talk about certain opponents.
“The opponents that have been named, to be fair, don’t really make any sense, like Gervonta Davis. He’s a few weights lower. Chris Eubank Jr is going to be doing his stuff and looking for GGG or something after that, looking for some kind of title shot.
“Manny Pacquiao is my age and is doing exhibitions now. I don’t know why that name has been thrown about. I don’t understand about these names coming back. Let’s clear his name first and take it from there,” said Oliver.