Why Was Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn Cancelled in 2022? Full Controversy Explained

The shots were fired, the stage was set, and the stakes were higher than ever. Then, in a moment, it all came crashing down. Now, more than two years later, on April 26, 2025, Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn will finally meet inside the squared circle to conclude their generational rivalry started by their father. But why did it fall apart the first time around?

The duo was locked in a colossal clash against each other on October 8, 2022, at the O2 Arena. With an already announced stacked undercard, it would have been the biggest British boxing event of the year. However, just a week before the clash, the fight collapsed, leaving everyone puzzled. Why? Let’s find out.

Reason behind the cancellation of Chris Eubank vs. Conor Benn in 2022

In the lead-up to their 2022 clash, Conor Benn found himself at the center of a major doping controversy. A routine pre-fight testing by the VADA exposed Benn’s alleged use of a banned substance, shattering the event’s momentum. On July 25, 2022, his first test revealed traces of clomiphene, a drug used in female fertility treatments but known to boost testosterone in men, enhancing strength and recovery. A second test on September 1, 2022, confirmed the violation, sealing his fate.

Following the tests, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) prohibited Benn from competing in the UK. And as a consequence, the much-hyped fight between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn collapsed. Matchroom Boxing, the event’s promoter, had no choice but to cancel the entire card, dismantling a blockbuster night for boxing.

However, for The Reaper, it was only the start of a turbulent saga. He appealed against the ban by the BBBofC, and in February 2023, an independent report by the WBC claimed that “highly elevated consumption of eggs” could have caused the adverse findings. The Briton maintained innocence and provided a 270-page defense to the WBC, denying any intentional doping. Despite that, the BBBofC and UKAD continued their investigations and kept him banned from boxing in the UK, even revoking Benn’s license.

A huge sigh of relief came in July 2023 when the organizations lifted the ban. However, just a year later, in May 2024, the ban was reinstated after UKAD and BBBofC won their appeal. Finally, on November 4, 2024, NADP (National Anti-Doping Panel) permanently lifted Conor Benn’s suspension, ruling they were “not comfortably satisfied” that UKAD had proved Benn intentionally committed a doping violation. The second time, the UKAD and BBBofC decided not to appeal the NADP ruling, paving the way for Benn’s return to boxing.

What did Eubank and Benn say after the fight cancellation? Aftermath

Subsequently, Conor Benn denied taking any substance. In an interview with Piers Morgan, he revealed how the controversy has adversely affected his career. He never confirmed the WBC report of high consumption of eggs, but maintained innocence throughout. “I was shamed for something I hadn’t even done. It’s hard because I felt like I was on death row for something I haven’t even done,” he lamented. He further added, “If I had done something wrong, I’m human, I’d raise my hands to it, ‘I made a mistake’. Whatever it is, my personal life, I raise my hands.”

On the other hand, Chris Eubank Jr. could do nothing but watch it in silence. A few weeks ago, after the official press conference of the April 26 bout, he compensated all the fighters who were meant to be on the undercard of the first scheduled clash.

The IBO middleweight champion has been competing constantly in the last 2 years. On the other hand, for Conor Benn, it has been a battle mostly out of the ring and inside the court. He has only fought twice in this time period, and that too in the US. However, now that he is back in his home country, he will look back to get the respect of his nation back. Furthermore, while this rescheduled fight might not reach the hype and grandeur of their 2022 clash, it will still be a big night for British boxing.

What do you think? Does Conor Benn vs. Chris Eubank Jr. make sense even after all this time? Let us know your thoughts down below.

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