Eddie Hearn strikes deal for Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn to fight in Middle East as plan B

According to the Daily Mail, Hearn’s preference is for the all-British bout to take place on December 23. The promoter is also keen on Cardiff’s Principality Stadium in Wales to host the much-anticipated showdown.

Whether that is a possibility is yet to be determined as the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping attempt to appeal the National Anti-Doping Panel’s decision to lift Benn’s suspension.

The 27-year-old recently marked his in-ring comeback with a unanimous decision victory over Rodolfo Orozco over in America.

This was his first outing since failing two drugs tests ahead of his scheduled bout with Eubank Jr back in October 2022.

Hopes of a UK-based fight between Eubank Jr and Benn on December 23 are slim considering the outcome of the Board and UKAD appeal could take months.

Benn continues to maintain his innocence, arguing he did not deliberately dope.

However, according to a report by Mail Sport, Benn’s hearing with the National Anti-Doping Panel failed to address the key question of how the banned substance, clomifene, entered the boxer’s system in the first place.

While Benn has been fighting to clear his name, Eubank Jr has been involved in two high-profile bouts with Liam Smith.

The 34-year-old lost the first bout in January but avenged that defeat in September with a tenth-round stoppage.