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Chris Eubank Jr. STILL wants to fight Conor Benn because he believes his rival ‘has to pay’ for failing two drug tests ahead of their canceled clash…but insists a grudge between the pair will only happen ‘on my terms’
- Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn were scheduled to face each other last month
- The fight was canceled late after Benn failed two drug tests
- Eubank Jr. has said he is still interested in fighting Benn in the future
- He thinks Benn should “pay” because their fight was canceled the first time
- Eubank Jr. will only take the fight on his own terms rather than at a catchweight
Chris Eubank Jr. is still open to a fight with Conor Benn, even though neither he nor the public will ever forgive Nigel’s son for failing two doping tests.
A resurrection of the fight that was canceled at the last minute when Benn’s second finding for using a performance-enhancing drug came to light would also depend on him regularly testing clean and agreeing to accept a move to middleweight.
Eubank says: “It’s possible we’ll still see our father’s names in boxing in the future, but only on my terms.”
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn were set to face each other at the O2 Arena last month
The fight was canceled after Benn failed two drug tests leading up to their clash
Junior had to toil to three pounds under the middleweight limit to meet natural welterweight Benn and, at 157 pounds, looked so alarmingly skeletal that his famous father urged him not to “risk his life.”
Benn is involved in an expensive and lengthy legal effort to clear his name, but Eubank Jr says: ‘If the court and even the King of England say it was an innocent mistake or an accident, he will still be guilty.
“It was unbelievably bad that I wasn’t told about the drug test until the day before the fight. I would also like to know when Eddie Hearn (Benn’s promoter) found out about the previous failed test three months earlier.
“Had I known, I never would have signed up for the fight. I can’t forgive the effort and the millions he cost me.
Eubank Jr. is still interested in fighting Benn in the future, but only on his own terms
“When I heard about the test on top of the weight loss I passed, I thought wow, they’re really out to get me.”
Eubank will demand that Benn be continuously tested if the fight does happen and when asked why he would agree to a new appointment in the first place, he says: ‘Conor has to pay for what happened. Not just for me, but for the fans in whose eyes he will always be guilty no matter what is written on a piece of legal paper.
“He and I were going to fight for our father’s legacy, but now it’s personal for me. And now I’m calling all the shots. It will have to be 160 pounds, which my dad would be fine with.
“I won’t suffer for the extra weight loss again.” He has forfeited all rights to such concessions. It is also telling that he has been heavily on social media all his life and has now gone off the radar.
“Running and hiding is not a sign of innocence.”
Eubank Jr’s next fight is against domestic rival Liam Smith on January 21
Eubank Jr also insists: ‘If the fight happens it will have to be in the UK. Not least for the fans.’
That would mean Benn would have to reapply for the UK license he tore up after the Board of Control stopped the original fight. It would also turn a blind eye to any plans to move abroad, with the Middle East already mentioned.
Eubank was speaking at the media launch for his replacement fight against Liverpool’s esteemed super-middleweight Liam Smith in Manchester on January 21, which he hopes will lead to an overdue bid for the world title later next year.
“Given our styles, this should be a really fun fight,” says Junior. “But most of all, Conor Benn cost me my Christmas.”