Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: Why was the first fight cancelled?

Generational bad blood will finally be put to bed on April 26 when Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn Jr face off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, live on DAZN PPV.

In a feud that traces its roots back to fathers Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn's nineties glory days, the pair are due to write a deeply personal new chapter in London this month.

With no love lost between them, their intense rivalry reached fever pitch at a press conference in late February when Eubank Jr slapped an enraged Benn with an egg in a face-off.

For fans, this has been a long time coming, with the pair originally due to meet at London's The O2 Arena in October 2022, before the contest was pulled just days beforehand.

So why was Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn's first fight cancelled? DAZN News has everything you need to know about the original bout. 

Why was Eubank Jr vs Benn cancelled in 2022? 

(Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)

Upon testing for his upcoming fight against Eubank, Benn delivered not one, but two adverse findings to drugs tests, which came back for clomiphene, a female fertility drug that is banned both inside and outside of competition.

It is known to boost testosterone in men when taken and results in enhanced sporting performance. These tests came back on the July 25 and the September 1, 2022. Subsequently the British Boxing Board of Control banned Benn from boxing in Britain, which resulted in the fight being cancelled 

In February 2023, whilst Benn was appealing the suspension, an independent report by the WBC claimed that the adverse findings could have been caused by "Highly elevated consumption of eggs". 

However, it is important to note that Conor Benn has never publicly stated this was the cause of the failed drug test. 

Eubank Jr vs Benn: What was said by the fighters after the first fight was cancelled? 

In the aftermath of the ordeal, Conor Benn subsequently denied taking the substance or any wrongdoings, saying the whole ordeal had badly impacted him.

In an interview with Piers Morgan he stated "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.

"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." 

• Read next | Why did Chris Eubank Jr slap Conor Benn with an egg?

​

Eubank Jr actually compensated for the other fighters who were meant to compete on the card, paying them for the fights that were supposed to take place.

Stating on Instagram: "Here's a little something to help out the undercard fighters that were left out of pocket."

Also adding "Few boxers didn't want to give me their bank details... maybe they will now."

Eubank received plenty of praise from the public and others in the boxing industry for his actions.

Eubank Jr vs Benn: What happened after the first fight was cancelled? 

Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

Since the fight was cancelled Eubank Jr been a very active fighter with two fights against Liam Smith. 

Eubank Jr lost the first fight via knockout in the fourth round in January 2023, but he avenged his loss dominating Liam and finishing him in round 10 eight months later before winning the vacant IBO middleweight title in October last year, knocking out Kamil Szeremeta in the round seven.  

On the other hand, Conor Benn had to wait a little longer to fight due to his suspension, which was lifted on July 28, 2023, and has beat both Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson by unanimous decision, both in the US. 

 

Watch three incredible fight nights in one week only on DAZN

Fight fans are in for a treat at the end of April / start of May, with three amazing fight cards within seven days - and DAZN PPV is the only place to watch them all.

• April 26: Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn
• May 2: Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero; Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez; Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr.
• May 3: Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull

Arch rivals Eubank Jr and Benn finally go head-to-head to start the exhilarating week, with PPV prices at £19.95 in the UK; $24.99 in the US; €24.99 in Europe.

Garcia vs. Romero and Canelo vs. Scull fight nights follow, which will both be exclusively on DAZN. Fight fans can purchase either fight individually for $59.99 US; £/€21.99 UK/IRE; ROW - $24.99 per PPV or take advantage of the DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle where both fights can be purchased for $90 US; £34.99 in the UK and €34.99 in Europe.