PROMOTER Eddie Hearn desperately tried to bundle Chris Eubank Jr versus Conor Benn over the line before it was eventually cancelled.
The British Boxing Board of Control have refused to sanction the fight after 26-year-old Benn failed a drugs test for a testosterone booster.
Under-pressure Matchroom boss Hearn did all he could to get the show officiated at the O2 on Saturday night.
There were claims a foreign board could take over after Malta sanctioned the Dillian Whyte vs Alexander Povetikin, while David Haye’s 2012 win over Derek Chisora was given the green light by the board in Luxembourg.
But Hearn spoke out to say the fight would only go ahead under the BBBoC jurisdiction.
He tweeted today: “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.”
🥊Eubank Jr vs Benn: Ring walk time, live stream, TV channel and undercard info for London super-fight
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And Hearn has now accepted defeat in his appeal with the fight definitely off.
Talks are now underway to work out a rearranged date.
The fight’s broadcasters, DAZN, suffered a huge financial hit when Canelo vs Gennady Golovkin bombed last month.
And the sports streaming app, which has lost around ÂŁ4billion since its inception and failure to land UK Premier League rights, will be hurt drastically if forced to refund all of the subscribers and pay-per-view buyers who wanted to see this catchweight bout, before it was tainted.
Hearn met with the BBBofC on Thursday morning and threatened them with an injunction if they commit to their banning of the bout, under their banner.
Should they have been invited, rival commissions would have jumped at the chance to get recognition and a hefty sanctioning fee by granting the fight under a cloud.
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Just two days before the weigh-in it emerged Benn had failed a pre-fight drug test, which SunSport understands was taken on September 23.
He returned an adverse finding for clomifene, which is commonly used as medication to treat infertility in women who do not ovulate.
But it can also increase testosterone levels in men, which is why it is on the World Anti-Doping Agency banned list.
SunSport also understands there could be an issue with a second test VADA took as part of the WBC’s Clean Boxing Program — but promoters Matchroom refused to comment.
Benn broke his silence to protest his innocence on Wednesday.
He said: “I’ve not committed any violations. I’ve not been suspended so as far as I’m concerned the fight is still going ahead.
“I’ve spoken to Chris personally and we both want the fight to go ahead.
“We’ve both taken medical and legal advice and as I said, we want the fight to go ahead for the fans.
“I’ve signed up to every voluntary anti-doping testing there is under the sun.
“Throughout my whole career I’m tested. All my UKAD 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 test have come up negative.
“So my team will find out as to why there’s been an initial adverse finding in my test.
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“But as I said, the fight is still going ahead. I’m a clean athlete and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”
But Benn’s claims of a conversation with his rival were shot down by Eubank Jr himself.
The 33-year-old Brighton fighter told Matchroom Boxing: “There was no phone call. We haven’t spoken since this was announced.
“It’s a shame. But my promoters, his promoters, the boxing board of control, they’re going to sort it out.
“I’m ready, I’m clean, I’m 60 per cent. I’ve been tested my entire career for the last ten years. I’ve been tested more than I’ve ever been tested for a fight during this training camp.
I don’t condone failed tests
Chris Eubank Jr
“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.”
The catchweight clash of 157lb was set to take place almost 30 years after their dads’ famous rematch, which ended in a draw.
WHAT IS CLOMIFENE?
CLOMIFENE is a banned substance which is known to increase testosterone levels in men.
It is usually prescribed to women to help with pregnancy if they are not ovulating properly.
The anti-oestrogen medication comes in pill form and is also known as Clomid and Clomiphene.
Studies have previously shown that when used in men, low doses can elevate serum testosterone levels.
It works by stimulating the body’s own production of testosterone and is known to provide similar results to injection or pellet testosterone therapy.
It can, and has, been misused by athletes in the past as it boosts performance and can counter the side effects of anabolic steroid use.
Taking clomifene boosts androgen levels indirectly – these are the male hormones that play a big role in muscle mass and strength.
What are the side effects?
Most medications can cause side effects with one in ten people experiencing feeling flushed, sick and experiencing headaches.
Other symptoms include breast discomfort, weight gain and abdominal or pelvic pain.
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Eubank had won the brutal original bout three years prior.
The next generation fight for their sons three decades later was due to bank the duo around ÂŁ3.5million.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
