Hearn Says Eubank-Benn Looking Increasingly Doubtful for Feb. 3: ‘We’re Probably Two Days Past Our Intended Deadline’

The high-profile matchup between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn for early next year is looking more and more unlikely with each passing day, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

Matchroom’s Hearn, who promotes Benn, has insisted to media outlets for the past several weeks that a fight between the British rivals was virtually locked in for Feb. 3 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.

But in an interview published on Tuesday with Boxing Social, the garrulous promoter admitted that there was a significant chance that the fight could be delayed once again because of difficulties in negotiations with the famously obstinate Eubank.

Asked if his “gut feeling” told him that the fight would happen on Feb. 3, Hearn responded, “No.”

Benn, a welterweight, and Eubank, a career middleweight, were scheduled to fight each other in a catchweight bout last year, in October, but a few days out from the date it was revealed that Benn had tested positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug clomifene, leading organizers to scrap the entire show. A few weeks later, it was revealed that Benn had failed another test earlier in the year for exactly the same substance.  

Benn’s two failed drug tests have scandalized British boxing for the past year, and his efforts to clear his name have led to numerous disputes with the regulatory bodies, including the British Boxing Board of Control and United Kingdom Anti-Doping. Benn has continually maintained his innocence, despite the fact he has not presented any evidence.

Earlier in the year, Benn was slapped with a suspension, but in July, it was lifted by the National Anti-Doping Panel. The BBBofC and UK Anti-Doping promptly appealed that decision, which remains ongoing.

A few weeks ago, Robert Smith, the general secretary of the BBBofC, indicated that he had rejected an application for Benn to box in England because Benn has not yet gone through the proper exculpatory procedures.

Hearn, who has made it clear he is willing to ignore the directives of the BBBofC, said that Benn is certain to fight early next year, even if the Eubank bout fails to materialize. Hearn said he would then look to see if Benn vs. Eubank can be revisited for the summer.

Benn returned to the ring for the first time in nearly 18 months in September in October, outpointing Rodolfo Orozco in Orlando, Florida, but he has not boxed in his homeland since knocking out Chris Van Heerden in two rounds in April 2022.

“In terms of a delay, perhaps this fight can happen in the future, but Conor Benn is fighting end of January, early February,” Hearn said. “We’re not waiting around. He’s in camp, ready to go, he’s fighting. It’s going to be a proper fight. If he wins the fight, maybe at the end of the summer or whatever we can look at the Eubank fight, I don’t know.

“The Eubank fight is there, ready to go for February, at [Tottenham Hotspur Stadium], 70,000, but we can’t get it over the line yet with Eubank. He’s been very difficult in negotiations but I understand, you’ve got your number that you think this fight is worth and we’re not there.”

“Will we get there within the next 24, 36 hours?” Hearn said. “Maybe. The first fight took eight or nine weeks to sign. I’ve seen the offer. I just don’t know any other fight that gets within a third of the number. But Chris is Chris. You know? He’s a stubborn guy and he’s going to do what he thinks is right, and I can’t knock that. But hopefully he'll get the right advice and we’ll get it done.”

Despite the relatively short turnaround, Hearn said he was still confident that he could market the fight properly.

“As long as we can get it announced and up, we can do that press conference the first week of January,” Hearn said. “I don’t mind, the buildup to that press conference is going to be unbelievable. But we are running out of time, there’s no two ways about it, and we’re probably two days past our intended deadline. But we do wanna make the fight. British boxing needs the fight.”

Sean Nam is the author of Murder on Federal Street: Tyrone Everett, the Black Mafia, and the Last Golden Age of Philadelphia Boxing.