​Tweet from Chris Van Heerden, who was stopped in two rounds by Conor Benn in April in reaction to the news that Benn has tested positive for a banned substance: "I have accepted my loss to Conor Benn like a man and never made any excuses. I had peace inside me BUT now I guess I will never know if I truly and fairly lost to the better man or a cheat.'

 

PRIOR BOXINGTALK COVERAGE: ​Tweet from Chris Eubank Jr. in reaction to the news his fight was cancelled/postponed: "Conor [Benn] got caught using an illegal substance so the fight is off. Can’t believe it. I really apologize to the fans and everyone that bought tickets, traveled and booked hotels. This should not of happened. He has escaped his schooling… for now."

 

This weekend's British super fight between Chris Eubank Jr.  and Conor Benn will NOT take place due to Benn's positive test for a banned substance. Here is the cancellation statement from Wasserman Boxing, who promotes Eubank: "After discussions with various parties, we have taken the decision to formally postpone the battle between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn. It is undeniable that the British Boxing Board of Control's decision to withdraw their sanctioning was procedurally flawed and without due process. That remains a legal issue between the promoters and the Board, which we intend to pursue. However, whilst there are legal routes to facilitate the fight taking place as planned, we do not believe that it is any fighter's interest for those to be pursued at such a late stage, or in the wider interests of the sport. As promoters, we take our obligations and duties very seriously, and a full investigation will now need to take place. We will be making no further comment at this time in News for ticket holder refund will follow."

 

The British Board of Boxing Control will not allow this weekend's British super fight between Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn to take place due to a positive test for a banned substance by Conor Benn. Here is the commission's brief statement: "On the evening of October 4th, the Board of the British Boxing Board of Control Limited resolved that the contest between Chris Eubank Jnr. and Conor Benn scheduled to take place on October 8th is prohibited as it is not in the interests of boxing. That was communicated to the boxers and promoters involved on the morning of October 5th."

 

While it remains possible, thanks to European Union law, that the fight could proceed under the sanction of an alternate commission, such as Luxembourg's, lead promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom said in a tweet on Thursday that he would not take that route: "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."

 

On Wednesday, as the news of the positive test broke, promoters Wasserman and Boxing and Matchroom issued a joint statement on Eubank vs. Benn fight. Here is the release: "We have been made aware that a random anti-doping test for Conor Benn conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association returned an adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug. The B sample has yet to be tested, meaning that no rule violation has been confirmed. Indeed Mr. Benn has not been charged with any rule violation, he is not suspended, and he remains free to fight. Mr. Benn has since passed a doping control test conducted by the UK anti-doping agency, the anti-doping authority to which the British Board of Boxing Control has delegated it’s open control testing for the belt. Mr. Benn has passed all doping control tests conducted by UKAD (the British testing authority) Both fighters have taken medical and legal advice and are aware of all relevant information and they wish to proceed with their bout this Saturday."