British contender Conor Benn gets back in the ring this Saturday in Orlando, Florida, despite a cloud remaining over his UK licensing.
The British Boxing Board of Control launched an appeal in conjunction with UKAD that continues without a conclusion.
At no point through the entire process of his two failed drug tests has Benn been cleared to fight by either organization.
Despite this ongoing situation, Benn has gained permission to box overseas. He will since compete under the jurisdiction of the Florida Athletic Commission.
It’s unclear whether Benn obtained a license from Florida or elsewhere, as compatriots David Haye and Derek Chisora did with Luxembourg in 2012.
Benn hasn’t fought since April 2022 after beating Chris Van Heerden. The South African has since challenged the victory based on Benn’s adverse findings months later.
Nonetheless, the British fighter, who holds a record of 21-0, will officially resume his career this weekend. He faces super welterweight Rodolfo ‘Sinaloita’ Orozco.
Conor Benn returns
But in Benn, Orozco faces a significant step up. The Brit is determined to perform impressively to make up for lost time.
Benn was provisionally suspended in April, effective as of March 15, when his fight with Chris Eubank Jr. last October was postponed.
‘ The Destroyer won an independent National Anti-Doping Panel review to remove a provisional suspension while the BBBofC and UKAD thoroughly examined his case.
Halting Benn’s career while he waited was deemed unnecessary by the Panel. However, the British Board never fully cleared Benn, the most crucial element in the process.
The Board still won’t give Benn a license to fight while the appeal remains ongoing. That’s a big red flag, but not one that Benn or promoter Eddie Hearn believe should stop him from trading punches in the ring.
Despite Benn and Hearn’s enthusiasm, getting his detractors back on his side will take a lot of convincing. The whole process has been stained from the get-go.
Without fully getting to the end of the process and fighting on without a care in the world, the Conor Benn saga reaches an unceremonious peak and rides on through the storm.
Turning a low-key return in Florida into a massive UK pay-per-view will be some job for Hearn, though. It’s undoubtedly not certain whether many of his old fans are still behind him.
We will find out that once the British Board informs fans of their final decision on the matter. Right now, their ruling is the one that will ultimately clear Benn or not.
The views expressed in this article are the opinions of experienced boxing writer Phil Jay.
