Promoter Eddie Hearn is delighted that welterweight Conor Benn has been cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel to resume his career. Hearn says Benn told him he wants the “biggest fight possible” for his comeback.
Considering how shaky Benn looked in his last two fights against Peter Dobson and Rodolfo Orozco, it makes sense that he would want the “biggest fight” he can get. Benn worked through unimpressive decisions in these two fights and showed none of the power he once had when his career was in good shape before his clomiphene suspension.
The welterweight Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) had been suspended since March 2023 for having tested positive for Clomiphene. However, the United Kingdom Anti-Doping (UKAD) could still appeal, which can keep the 28-year-old Benn 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 has never fought a top welterweight. His knockouts came against lesser fighters.
“Completely cleared of any wrongdoing after a full NAPD hearing. The journey can now continue. It looks like the beginning,” said promoter Eddie Hearn Matchroom BoxingThey are talking about Conor Benn being cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel.
Benn is also unclear why UKAD can appeal again, which could prevent him from fighting. If Benn is free to fight, Hearn and his team must make the best possible choice because there is a high chance of losing if he fights for a world title at 147 or 154. Benn’s best wins before his suspension they 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 was still essentially fighting at the domestic level.
“It’s almost like we’ve got a new fighter who’s already a bit like self-made as one of the biggest stars in British boxing who’s ready, who’s ready to attack the game,” Hearn he continued about Benn.
Hearn plays fast and loose saying that Benn is “one of the biggest stars in British boxing” as he hasn’t beaten anyone during his eight-year professional career to be labeled a “star”. If we have to call prospects like Benn a “star”, it’s a little he faces.
He’s really just a prospect, but if you gave him a higher label, you could call him a “domestic level” fighter. The prospect is more suitable, but he is an elder. Benn turns 29 in 2025, and that’s old for a prospect.
“We’re back in business, and this will be an incredible comeback,” Hearn said. “It’s a massive shot in the arm for Conor Benn, for Matchroom Boxing, for DAZN, but also for British boxing. Talk about big names in sports right now, and this young man is right up there. He is back with anger, ferocity and violence and is ready to entertain the boxing world.
“We can rebuild with a big fight back at the O2 and move into a position to challenge 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 to middleweight and fight Chris Eubank Jr. in the biggest fight in British boxing,” said Hearn.
The biggest fight available for Benn is a British clash against middle contender Eubank Jr. later, and Hearn will be well aware of this. 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 losing.
Benn, 28, lacks the experience and pedigree to fight for a world title, especially with his long absence from the ring. Although Benn had 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 only a prospect and not a real contender. Benn’s best wins before his suspension for testing positive twice for the banned PED Clomifene were against Chris Algieri, 38, and Chris Van Heerden, 35.
“Strategy is now the key. That’s why you sit down with the team, Tony Sims, Conor and Matchroom, and chart the future. Conor’s instructions for me at the moment are: “Give me the biggest fight you can possibly give me,” Hearn said.
