Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn dates set as talks reopen over super-fight

05 September 2023 , 11:24

1192     0

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn could fight this year (Image: Getty Images)

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn could fight before the end of the year after the former's stunning win over Liam Smith on Saturday night.

The duo, who are sons of legendary rivals Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, were due to fight in October last year. But when Benn returned adverse findings in multiple tests, the event was scrapped at the 11th-hour and the 26-year-old was forced to fight for his future behind the scenes.

And with Benn now cleared to return, promoter Eddie Hearn is getting to work on bringing him back to the ring, possibly with a tune-up in Orlando this month before a December return against Eubank Jr. The British Boxing Board of Control have appealed the National Anti-Doping Panel's clearance of Benn, and he remains in limbo in the UK.

But Hearn believes he could fight twice this year, with the Eubank Jr bout possibly in early December. While running through Matchroom Boxing's packed year-end schedule in an interview with IFL TV, he noted that one of either December 2 or 9 could be headlined By Eubank Jr vs Benn, with the other to feature Dmitry Bivol.

"We're having conversations, decent communications with the board about Conor boxing on September 30," Hearn said. "They haven't rejected and those conversations are ongoing. He has the option because he's licensed in America and he's not suspended anywhere.

Conor Benn vs Manny Pacquiao "being discussed" despite Brit's drug test failures

Do you still want to see Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr fight? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!

"The board are happy for him to fight in Orlando, they're not going to object to it or say that he can't fight because they can't, he's not suspended. He's been cleared of his suspension so that's an option as well and ideally we would like him to fight before he goes into that huge fight which will be in December.

"He will go into that fight straight off the bat, but he hasn't boxed for over a year-and-a-half now so a ten or an eight [round fight], he won't want an eight, it doesn't even have to be a big fight of any magnitude. Just go out there and dust the cobwebs off before you have a career-defining fight and that's something that we'll have to decide this week."

The original fight between Eubank Jr and Benn was supposed to take place at a catchweight of 157lb, which the elder fighter struggled to make but did despite the bout being called off. However, they have verbally agreed to do it at 160lb, two weight classes above where Benn normally fights.

Donagh Corby