Benn vs Eubank Jr: Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

Benn vs Eubank Jr: Just Because You Can, Doesn’t Mean You Should

Just for once, apart from the money men of course, everyone was on the same page last October. There was universal outrage after news broke that Conor Benn had failed a drugs test when attempts were made to shamelessly carry on regardless. Yes, some will now try and rewrite history, treating us all like fools and hoping our memories can be erased by a few well chosen words spoken to the chosen few with microphones in hand with the soft questions and unchecked answers.

Boxing always has been the land of make-believe. Tommy Fury is fighting the world-class opposition we are told. Fury actually said his words with much conviction, and crucially, with a straight face. Evidently he is obviously a better actor than he is a fighter. Love Island. Fantasy Island more like.

Benn is in the news yet again this weekend. The tired old shameless narrative is fed out once more. The fight with Chris Eubank Jr that was quite rightly pulled last October, despite the best efforts of the money men to try and save the show, looks like it has been resurrected once again. Agreed but not yet signed is the line of the day.

The cheerleading side of boxing media has now come out to play. The same outlets that stood on ‘Principle Hill’ last October demanding that boxing should clean up its act are now part of the whole shabby charade. They report with much glee that the fight is once again on the horizon. But there is little mention of the elephant in the room. There is no uprising. Outrage has been replaced by thoughts of clicks and a little jolly boys outing to the Middle East. Did we seriously expect anything different? Possible sanctions to all involved might make the small print if we are lucky. There’s a paid holiday at stake here remember. Proper scrutiny is not on the guest list. We dare not mention VADA or random testing.

The elephant in the room, of course, if we needed reminding, and some obviously do, are two failed drug tests several weeks apart last year. The WBC, remember them, tried to clear Benn with their statement of little intent. Even Benn disputed what they found. But when that failed to convince the masses, the act of stubbornness, ignorance and naivety changed to one of cooperation. In truth, it had to. There was nowhere else to go. At least in places where the sport has some semblance of respect for its heritage. I use that term extremely loosely. We know the sport is broken into a million pieces. But we can at least pretend it is pure and simple, even though we know it is hearsay and in no way shape or form a statement based on fact. A cheap play of words on a long forgotten pop band formed on a reality show. Boxing has its own patented form of reality. And don’t we know it.

The fight has apparently found its natural home. A place where it is money over everything. There is no such thing as the dirty dollar. We are told they want the fight in the UK and all the outstanding issues will be resolved in a matter of weeks. But will it? And if it isn’t, the show will just go on the road.

Some in boxing media will call the fight out for what it is. We know who the select few are. And we know full well who will stay silent and say nothing and join in the counting of the clicks and justify the fight by quoting the all important numbers and forgetting about the credibility of the sport that they cover. Or indeed, their own credibility. They too are blinded by their own arrogance.

I have no axe to grind with Conor Benn and I have every sympathy with him if he is indeed completely innocent of any wrongdoing. My issue is with the current state of play. Benn is currently provisionally suspended by UKAD as a result of those aforementioned adverse findings, and the fact that the fighter is free to explore other avenues to fight is an unforgivable stain on our sport. It shouldn’t be allowed to happen. The understatement of any year.

Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should. Nothing can justify this fight happening, and until Benn has been cleared by UKAD, there should be no mention of Eubank or anyone else fighting Benn. Suspension should mean exactly that. And remember, with strict liability, there is no guarantee Benn will be cleared. A fact seemingly lost on many. While we shouldn’t presume Benn is guilty, we shouldn’t presume he isn’t. And when we still have doubt, we shouldn’t be getting a fight. The proposed fight might very well be money in the bank. But in many ways, it is a cheque the sport can’t afford to cash.

Photo Credit: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing