A VIDEO of Eddie Hearn criticising boxers failing drug tests and being allowed to fight has gone viral as the promoter attempted to rescue the bout between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank.
The two Brit boxers were set for a huge showdown at the O2 on Saturday – before the fight was officially cancelled this afternoon.
It was unclear if the match-up would go ahead after Benn failed a drug test.
The 26-year-old tested positive for clomifene, which increases testosterone levels in men.
The British Boxing Board of Control stepped in yesterday and ruled the scrap is “prohibited”, but Benn’s promoter Hearn had been attempting to revive the fight.
A video went viral on social media showing Hearn hitting out at boxers who fail drug tests but continue to try and fight.
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Referring to Billy Joe Saunders failing a drug test previously, Hearn says in an interview: “What is the point in signing up for drug testing if, when you fail, everyone goes ‘well don’t worry about it, just let him fight.’
“You’ve signed drug testing with VADA (Voluntary Anti-Doping Association), the best testing agency, in my opinion, in the sport.”
Tweeters were unsympathetic to Hearn’s comments potentially coming back to bite him.
One said: “The man talks too much. This was always going to happen to him at some stage.
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Another said: “Could make a Netflix show about Eddie contradicting himself, depending on if its his fighter or not.”
Since the news broke yesterday, the promoter had been frantically trying to revive the fight before today’s confirmation that it was off.
It appeared that at one stage Hearn was considering three foreign licenses to get the show officiated at the O2.
But earlier today the Matchroom boss tweeted: “Let’s see what today brings but to make one thing clear, I will not be promoting this fight with a foreign commission or alternative governing body on Saturday night.”
Hearn then abandoned his rescue bid earlier this afternoon.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
