Hearn On Benn-Eubank, South Africa Will Host Boxing Tournament In Honor Of Mandela

In the latest boxing news today, Eddie Hearn is targeting a fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. in December. 

Those comments arrived following the announcement that Benn will face Rodolfo Orozco on September 23rd, 2023, in Orlando, Florida. The fight will be the first time that Benn has fought since failing two VADA tests for Clomiphene.

Although an investigation is still ongoing, the boxer is technically allowed to box. This was after being cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel, despite an appeal ongoing from the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and UKAD.

Therefore, there are still some issues that need resolving before Benn can be considered as innocent moving forward. 

Nevertheless, Hearn is not looking to hang around. The Matchroom Boxing Promoter has set his sights on a fight at the back end of the year. 

Hearn On Benn-Eubank

“We want the Eubank fight. It’s the biggest fight in British boxing, outside AJ v Fury and right up there with it. We want to fight in the UK. Conor won his case. He was cleared, his suspension was lifted and I keep hearing this ‘he was not cleared’. If he wasn’t cleared he wouldn’t be allowed to fight on Saturday.

“So our plan, ideally, is to fight Chris Eubank Jr in the UK in December. We’ve already had offers from a number of international venues to stage that fight, but I would like to try and make that fight in the UK,” Hearn stated 

Benn’s Future

Nevertheless, there is an issue of whether Eubank Jr. would take the fight. The former has already confirmed that a fight can only happen once Benn has proves his innocence.

And given that an appeal process is still ongoing, Benn is not out of the woods yet. The issue of whether he had Clomiphene in his system still needs resolving. And there is no getting away from that. 

South Africa’s Tournament

In addition, South Africa will host the first ever African Boxing Cup. This is after the late Nelson Mandela from October 9-14th, 2023, from the Durban International Convention Centre.

The event is set to pay homage to Mandela, who was the first President of South Africa to be elected by democratic means. This will see various organizations come together to make the event.

This includes the South African Boxing Organization (SANABO), IBA, AFBC (African Boxing Federation) and Thembekile Mandela Foundation (TMF) made by Mandela’s daughter, Ndileka Mandela. 

There will be a cash prize on offer for those competing, which will be split between the 25 different categories across the male and female participants.

And given that Mandela was known for being passionate about the sport of boxing, the IBA President Umar Kremlev highlighted the importance of this event. 

“We are immensely proud to be launching the African Boxing Cup named in honor of Nelson Mandela, a man who symbolized the indomitable human spirit and the fight for freedom and equality. Mandela was very closely linked to boxing; despite he had never fought. This emphasizes the core values of our sport. It doesn’t matter whether you just practice boxing or fight at the elite level, boxing gives you all it has,”  Umar Kremlev