CONOR BENN's fight with Chris Eubank Jr has been 'PROHIBITED' by the British Boxing Board of Control - but there are still developments incoming.
Benn's promoter Eddie Hearn says he is challenging this decision plus both Benn and Eubank Jr have broken their silences and say they want the fight to go ahead.
Both fighters still went out for their public work-outs following the news. We'll be bringing you all of the latest updates as they unfold here.
- Benn had tested for drug Clomifene
- Fight was set for Saturday night
- The decision is being appealed
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Follow ALL of the latest updates below...
Liam Williams steps up
Liam Williams, who Chris Eubank Jr defeated in February, has offered up his services for Saturday night's main event.
Williams tweeted: "If @ChrisEubankJr needs someone to fight I’ll happily get it done again. Home from holidays Friday morning ready to make weight and go Saturday."
Frank Warren speaks
Rival promoter Frank Warren has spoken about the Benn vs Eubank Jr fight latest.
Eubank Jr continues
Chris Eubank Jr spoke about the drugs testing requirements: “I have an app on my phone where I have to designate where I’m going to be every single day and I’ve been on that app for my entire career and I will be on it for the rest of my career.
“They can come and test me for blood and urine unannounced whenever they see fit and I’ve never failed a test. I’ve even been tested on holiday.
“I don’t condone failed tests.”
Eubank Jr on the pads
After Conor Benn's public work-out, Chris Eubank Jr then took to the ring afterwards all as scheduled.
Eubank Jr said: "It’s a shame, but the promoters, the board, they’re going to sort it out. I’m ready, I’m clean, I’m 60%…
"Of course there’s concerns, but I’ve cut the weight, I’m ready to go."
What Conor Benn said
Conor Benn broke his silence before the public work-outs today, which went ahead as planned.
Benn said: "I’ve not committed any violations, I’ve not been suspended, so as far as I’m concerned the fight’s still going ahead.
"I’ve spoken to Chris Eubank Jr personally and we both want to go ahead."
Eubank Jr latest
Chris Eubank Jr said at his public work-out today that he still wants the fight to go ahead on Saturday night.
Eubank Jr said: “It’s a shame, but the promoters, the board, they’re going to sort it out. I’m ready, I’m clean, I’m 60%…
"Of course there’s concerns, but I’ve cut the weight, I’m ready to go.”
Eubank Jr denies Benn phone call
Chris Eubank Jr has denied Conor Benn's claim that the pair spoke on the phone after the revelation of Benn's positive drugs test.
Eubank Jr said: "There was no phone call. We haven't spoken since this was announced."
More from Eubank Jr
Eubank Jr said on the drugs testing requirements: "I have an app on my phone where I have to designate where I'm going to be every single day and I've been on that app for my entire career and I will be on it for the rest of my career.
"They can come and test me for blood and urine unannounced whenever they see fit and I've never failed a test. I've even been tested on holiday.
"I don't condone failed tests."
Eubank Jr on the pads
Chris Eubank Jr is on the pads during his public work-out right now.
He says he still wants this fight to go ahead.
Eubank Jr public work-out
Eubank Jr says the board and promoters are "going to sort it out" and he's "ready to go".
More from Eubank Jr
Eubank Jr is HERE at his public work-out as scheduled.
And he says he is ready and still wants the fight on.
Even got his 60% Baby T-shirt on.
Jake Paul makes Eubank Jr offer
Jake Paul has offered Chris Eubank Jr some ringside seats for his boxing return and a potential fight themselves one day.
Paul has offered some front row seats for his Anderson Silva fight on October 29...
Chris Eubank Jr breaks silence
Chris Eubank Jr has now arrived for his public workout and broken his silence too.
Eubank Jr said: "It's a shame, but the promoters, the board, they're going to sort it out. I'm ready, I'm clean, I'm 60%… Of course there's concerns, but I've cut the weight, I'm ready to go."
This is developing at pace.
More from Conor Benn
Conor Benn's public workout went ahead as scheduled as they fight to keep the bout on.
Promoter Eddie Hearn is currently challenging the decision from the British Boxing Board of Control to "prohibit" the bout after a previous "adverse" drugs test from Benn.
Benn at his public work-out
Conor Benn pictured at his public work-out this afternoon.
He broke his silence before it and declared he is a "clean athlete" and both he and Eubank Jr still want the fight to go ahead.
BBC not showing doc tonight
BBC will NOT now be airing a documentary on Eubank vs Benn, which was set to go out at 10.40pm.
More from Conor Benn
Benn said at his public work-out just now: "We've both taken medical and legal advice, and as I said, we want the fight to happen for the fans.
"I've signed up to every voluntary anti-doping testing there is under the sun.
"Throughout my whole career I've been tested. All my UK tests have come back negative throughout my whole career, I've never had any issues before.
"Even in the lead-up to this fight, my tests have come up negative, you know, so my team will find out as to why there's been an initial adverse finding in my test."
Benn latest
So there it is. Conor Benn has just been speaking at his public work-out and says that he has spoken to Chris Eubank Jr and they both want the fight to go ahead.
Eubank Jr will be out for his public weigh-in shortly too. This is rumbling at pace.
Conor Benn speaks
Benn has BROKEN SILENCE as he arrived at his public work-out.
Benn said: "I've not committed any violations, I've not been suspended, so as far as I'm concerned the fight's still going ahead. I've spoken to Chris Eubank Jr personally and we both want to go ahead."
British Boxing board of Control statement
A BBBoC statement read: "On the evening of 4th October 2022, the Board of the British Boxing Board of Control Limited resolved that the contest between Chris Eubank Jnr. and Conor Benn scheduled to take place on 8th October 2022 is prohibited as it is not in the interests of Boxing."
Why is clomifene a banned substance?
Taking clomifene boosts androgen levels indirectly - male hormones that play a big role in muscle mass and strength.
It works by stimulating the body's own production of testosterone and is known to provide similar results to injection or pellet testosterone.
Clomofine has been misused by athletes in the past and can counter the side effects of anabolic steroid use.
What is clomifene?
Clomifene is a drug that is prescribed to women who are struggling with infertility.
The anti-oestrogen medication comes in a pill form and is also known as clomiphene, and the brand name Clomid.
Clomiphene is in a class of medications called ovulatory stimulants and it works similarly to oestrogen.
The drug helps stimulate the ovaries to release an egg, and is used to help women conceive.
But studies have shown when it's used by men, low doses can elevate serum testosterone levels.
What has Eddie Hearn said?
Hearn during today's public work-out: "We've just seen the British Boxing Board of Control's statement, which is pretty straight forward.
"It's with the lawyers going backwards and forwards right now. Both guys signed up to a multitude of testing for this fight.
"The UKAD testing, which is obviously the testing agency that the British Boxing Board of Control use and are governed by are all clear and negative.
"There was an adverse finding on a VADA test previously. So there's not been an official doping violation there's a process that has to be gone through."
Eubank Jr vs Benn latest
Conor Benn's fight with Chris Eubank Jr has now been officially 'prohibited' by the British Boxing Board of Control after a failed drug test.
But promoter Eddie Hearn vowed to contest the decision with ongoing legal talks following Benn's failed drug test.
Saturday's fight for the ages has been scrapped by the board after Benn was found to have traces of a female fertility drug in his system.
The BBBoC stepped in and declared the scrap is prohibited under their sanctioning, despite BOTH fighters wanting to continue with the bout.
A BBBoC statement read: "On the evening of 4th October 2022, the Board of the British Boxing Board of Control Limited resolved that the contest between Chris Eubank Jnr. and Conor Benn scheduled to take place on 8th October 2022 is prohibited as it is not in the interests of Boxing."
Just a day before the weigh in, it emerged Benn had failed a pre-fight drug test.
