Eddie Hearn has revealed that Conor Benn could make his return to the ring in February next year, with a grudge match against Chris Eubank Jr being the primary target. The Matchroom promoter confirmed that Benn will wait until 2025 for his comeback, rather than fighting this year, to allow time for the Eubank Jr bout to be finalised.
The 27-year-old Benn has been sidelined by a suspension following two failed voluntary drug tests ahead of his originally scheduled fight with Eubank Jr in October 2022. He maintains his innocence, attributing the finding of clomifene to contamination. Despite an independent tribunal initially lifting his ban, UK Anti-Doping and the British Boxing Board of Control successfully appealed that decision in May.
Since then, Benn has fought twice in the United States, securing wins over Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson in February 2024. Eubank Jr is set to face Kamil Szeremeta on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol in Riyadh on 12 October, and Hearn believes a clash between the two British fighters is now imminent.
Hearn told IFLTV that discussions have taken place with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh and promoter Frank Warren. “We have big plans for Conor, the Eubank Jr fight is the biggest fight in British boxing outside of Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury,” Hearn said. He added that the bout could take place in the UK at Wembley Stadium or Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, or alternatively in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
