With earlier reports over the past few months indicating that there was definite interest by both Manny Pacquiao and Conor Benn to face each other at Welterweight, the two fighters’ management teams have apparently taken to great lengths to tie up the knot for a potential money-spinning fight between the two boxers who are at completely different stages of their careers.
“Manny Pacquiao wants the fight.” Eddie Hearn, promoter of Conor Benn (21-0, 14 KO’s), confirmed in an interview with former-boxer-turned-presenter Tony Bellew – who Hearn used to promote – on the DAZN Boxing Show. “It’s an expensive fight, and we’re in talks with a number of countries to stage that fight at the moment.”
The prospect of Manny Pacquiao (62-8-2, 39 KO’s) facing the undefeated British Welterweight Conor Benn would see the legendary Filipino multi-division world champion officially return to the ring after an absence of nearly two years following his unanimous decision defeat to former WBA Welterweight world champion, Yordenis Ugas (27-5, 12 KO’s), in 2021.
Conor Benn is currently, who notably failed his drug tests last year, set to sue the BBBofC (British Boxing Board of Control) which, Hearn clarified, wouldn’t allow him to produce the documents that Piers Morgan had advised him to release to the public on his talk show.
“He’s got legal proceedings that will begin with the BBBofC. At the moment, he’s got no interest in sharing documents with them because he’s about to sue them.” Hearn explained.
Eddie Hearn also verified that there Benn would very likely not fight in the UK, due to his legal case with the BBBofC who would need to sanction him to fight which has been made impossible since he relinquished his British license.
“I don’t think he’s going to be in the position to fight in the UK in May or June because that is a process we have to go through with the board.” Hearn said.
Hearn continued on to explain how the BBBofC neglected making a decision when they were alerted to Conor Benn’s failed test results on the same day as Benn’s management team.
“Five weeks later, three days before the fight after we spent about a million quid in costs, they decided to make their decision.” Hearn asserted.
Though Benn will likely not fight on British soil for his potential fight against Pacquiao, Benn will still be able to fight internationally once he arranges himself to apply for an international license, which will highly-likely not be a difficult or lengthy process.
Eddie Hearn also claimed there remained interest in Benn fighting Chris Eubank Jr. (32-3, 23 KO’s) at 160 lbs in a match that would arguably be more heated and bigger than it had been the previous year, but the prospect of this fight occurring is still speculation at this stage given Eubank Jr. is expected to face Liam Smith (33-3-1, 20 KO’s) for their highly-anticipated rematch somewhere in April or May of this year.
