Chris Eubank Sr has defended Conor Benn amid the fury over his failed drug test which postponed his scheduled fight with Chris Eubank Jr.
News broke on Wednesday, three days before he was set to face Eubank Jr, in The Daily Mail that Benn had returned an “adverse analytical finding” for the banned substance Clomiphene during a Voluntary Anti-Doping Test conducted prior to the fight.
Benn has since vowed to clear his name and protested his innocence, whilst his father Nigel Benn, who shared two memorable battles with Eubank Sr, insisted his son is a clean athlete.
Eubank Sr was vocal throughout the build-up in his disapproval for the fight, questioning the safety of his son who was due to weigh in at a career lightest and was under strict restrictions on what he could rehydrate to, with penalties in place had he had weighed in above the agreed second day weight.
However, the former two-weight world champion believes that Benn did not intentionally cheat.
“When I look at a fighter, I look at the spirit in them,” the 56-year-old said on The Fight Is Right podcast.
“Conor would have had no idea, in my view, of what they would suggest he should have. I’ve seen them do it. I’ve watched them.
“These are men who are going to be rooted out of this game, because they’re not fighters, they’re PE teachers.
“I respect them but not when they’re harming fighters because, in my view, when I look at Conor Benn, that’s a pure young man.
“That boy’s clean. He’s a clean man and a great fighter.”
According to the report, all parties were made aware of the test result on September 23.
The British Boxing Board of Control [BBBofC] who are governed by UK Anti-Doping [UKAD] to which Benn passed all tests for in the lead-up to the fight, ruled later on Wednesday that the fight was prohibited, with it “not in the interests of boxing.”
Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn and Eubank Jr’s promoter, Kalle Sauerland were keen to proceed with the bout, which was set to be staged in front of a sold out O2 Arena on Saturday, despite the ruling and Hearn suggested that due to ‘The Destroyer’ not being suspended by the BBBofC, the fight should go ahead.
However, on Thursday in a joint statement, both promoters announced the fight was postponed, although described the BBBofC’s decision to prohibit the clash as “procedurally flawed and without due process.”
Eubank Sr had a chilling message to promoters and managers following last week’s events.
“You have toddlers looking after us fighters. Toddlers,” he added.
“These guys they call managers and promoters. These guys, I’m coming for you. You tried to murder my boys. I’m coming for you.”
