Promoter Eddie Hearn is thrilled that welterweight Conor Benn has been cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel to resume his career. Hearn says Benn told him he wanted the “Biggest fight possible” for his return.
Considering how shaky Benn has looked in his last two fights against Peter Dobson and Rodolfo Orozco, it makes sense that he wants the “biggest fight” he can get. Benn worked to unimpressive decisions in those two fights, showing none of the power he used to have when his career was in good shape before his clomiphene suspension.
The welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) has been suspended since March 2023 because he tested positive for Clomifene. However, UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) can still appeal, which could keep the 28-year-old Benn on the shelf for longer.
In an interview with Matchroom, Hearn listed these fighters as Benn’s options for his comeback fight:
Chris Eubank Jr.
Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis
Mario Barrio
Eimantas Stanionis
Benn is a good puncher with a 60.7% KO rate, but he has never fought a top-rated welterweight. His knockouts came against lesser fighters.
“Fully cleared of any wrongdoing after a full NAPD hearing. The journey can now continue. It feels like the beginning,” said promoter Eddie Hearn Matchroom Boxingtalking about Conor Benn being cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel.
Benn is still not in the clear as UKAD could appeal again, which could stop him from fighting. If Benn is free to fight, Hearn and his team should make the best choice possible because there is a high chance he will lose if he fights for a world title at 147 or 154. Benn’s best wins before his suspension were against older non-contenders Chris Algieri, Adrian Granados, and Chris Van Heerden. Benn had never fought any of the talented contenders at 147, and he essentially still fought at the local level.
“It almost feels like we have a new fighter who is already kind of self-made as one of the biggest stars in British boxing who is ready, who is ready to attack the game,” Hearn continued of Benn.
Hearn played fast and loose by saying that Benn is “one of the biggest stars in British boxing” as he has not beaten anyone to be labeled a “star” during his eight-year professional career. If we’re going to call prospects like Benn a “star,” it kind of is make it cheap.
He’s really just a prospect, but if you gave him a higher label, you could call him a “household-level” fighter. Prospect is more appropriate, but he is an older one. Benn turns 29 in 2025, and that’s old for a prospect.
“We’re back in business, and this is going to be an incredible comeback,” Hearn said. “This is a massive shot in the arm for Conor Benn, for Matchroom Boxing, for DAZN, but also for British boxing. You’re talking about big names in the sport now, and this young man is right up there. He comes back with rage, ferocity and violence and is ready to entertain the boxing world.
“We can rebuild with a big comeback fight at the O2 and move into a challenging position for a world championship at 147 pounds. We can jump right into a world title shot at 147 against Boots, Barrios, or Stanionis. We can move up to middleweight and Chris Eubank Jr. fighting in the biggest fight in British boxing,” Hearn said
The biggest fight available to Benn is a next British clash against middleweight contender Eubank Jr., and Hearn should be well aware of that. It would be too risky for Benn to challenge one of the welterweight champions like Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, Eimantas Stanionis or Mario Barios due to the high probability of him losing.
Benn, 28, lacks the experience and pedigree to fight for a world title, especially with his long absence from the ring. Although Benn has fought twice since being suspended, defeating Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson, they were not world class fighters. Even before Benn’s suspension, which began in March 2023, he was just a prospect and not a true contender. Benn’s best wins before his suspension for twice testing positive for the banned PED Clomifene were against 38-year-old Chris Algieri and 35-year-old Chris Van Heerden.
“Strategy is now the key. That’s why you sit down with the team, Tony Sims, Conor and Matchroom, and you plan the future. “Conor’s instructions to me right now are, ‘Give me the biggest fight you can possibly give me,'” Hearn said.
