‘There is an appeal process ongoing’: BBBofC deny application for Eubank vs Benn

The British sanctioning body have refused to sign off on a Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight as they continue to deal with Benn’s positive drug test.

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, along with their handlers, still seem intent on renewing a classic rivalry between their fathers for what they expect will be a big box office attraction. That fight was supposed to take place last year until Benn ended up testing positive for a banned substance, which derailed the event.

Since then Benn has been in a lengthy battle with the British Boxing Board of Control as he’s maintained his innocence and tried to resume his career, but it doesn’t look like the sides are much closer to a resolution as Robert Smith of the BBBofC has told Sky Sports they’ve denied an application to sanction the bout for what was rumored to be a February 3 fight date.

“The Board have rejected [the] application,” Robert Smith, the general secretary of the BBBoC told Sky Sports. “There is an appeal process ongoing.”

So as Benn and the British Board continue to duke it out, outside of the ring, it doesn’t seem that we’re all that much closer to what would be a big prize fight in the UK. Surely the fight could be staged outside the country, but it certainly wouldn’t be worth anywhere near as much.