Matchroom CEO, Eddie Hearn – who promotes Conor Benn, echoed his fighter’s disappointment in the WBC’s ruling where they claimed Benn accidentally got the banned drug (for athletes) clomiphene in his system by eating too many eggs. With Benn having refuted those claims already, Hearn also expressed his unhappiness at the WBC’s statement with his latest comments on the DAZN Boxing Show.
“We weren’t over the moon with the (WBC’s) release that came out.” Hearn said. “There’s a lot in that 270-page document that was ignored.“
The WBC’s official statement not only cleared Conor Benn to fight in bouts they sanctioned, but also suggested that Benn failed his drug test because he consumed a massive amount of eggs. With Benn already having denied that was the case, Hearn seemed perplexed as to why the WBC would make such a statement given the information that had been shared with them.
“We believe that Conor Benn is innocent, but for many of the reasons that had nothing to do with what the WBC actually put out.” Hearn clarified. “Conor Benn’s reasoning for his innocence was not conveyed in the messaging of that report.
“Conor Benn is like a caged animal at the moment, in many respects. One, he ultimately wants the substance of that report to be seen and heard, and for that to be recognized in the process. And he feel like it hasn’t been, really.
“At the same time, he’s been found ‘not guilty’ and cleared to fight. Conor wants to fight the world at the moment – in the ring and out the ring.“
Hearn went on to express some of his frustration at the organizations who seem to have ignored the 270-page document Benn and his team had compiled to prove his innocence, and has reaffirmed the belief that his fighter is clean.
“I can’t do any more than come out, and give him my support, which I’ve done.” Hearn further said. “I’ve taken flack for it. I’ve taken criticism for it, but I believe in him.
“You either believe him or you don’t, but I do. I’m sorry. For everything I’ve seen, and the dozens of times I’ve sat with him in this process, I believe him.” Hearn declared firmly.
Hearn continued to share what Conor Benn’s future would look like and teased the possibility of him fighting three months from now. He also shed some light into where he could fight now that his British license has been relinquished.
“We will now make a decision where we will apply for a license for Conor Benn to fight.” Hearn said. “Could be Nevada, could be New York, could be Britain.
“Ultimately, we want him back in the ring, probably by June, and we would much rather go through that process with the BBBofC. However, right now, that’s the last thing that Conor Benn wants to do because he’s fuming, but it means he can box straight away in the UK. If not, his next fight will be internationally.“
