McCaskill’s Controversial PED Comments, Hearn Responds After The BBBOF And UKAD Appeal

Jessica McCaskill has apologized after her controversial comments about Matchroom following Alycia Baumgardner’s recent positive test. 

Baumgardner’s positive test showed that she had Mesterolone and Methenolone in her system. 

The undisputed junior lightweight champion’s urine sample on July 12th, 2023, showed the results which was three days before her win over Christina Linardatou. 

In response, McCaskill had a few words to say about the issue. The WBA and WBC welterweight champion has fought on Matchroom cards, and she will do so again when she faces Sandy Ryan on September 23rd, 2023.

However, her following comments may have disrupted her standing. 

McCaskill On Hearn

“The s*** I’m about to say right now might f*** up my next fight with Sandy Ryan. Let’s do the math really quick – Alycia signed a multiple fight contract with Matchroom in January 2022, four fights.

“She has a mandatory now which is Hyun-Mi Choi, when you have a mandatory, you don’t necessarily have to have a promoter…They’re not saying, ‘Alycia’s signed another multiple-fight contract.’ They’re saying, ‘Alycia’s popped hot.’

“So maybe she’s putting Matchroom in a corner and they don’t like that, so all of a sudden quote-unquote, she ‘popped hot’, f*** out of here. I feel like there’s a lot of shady s*** that goes on…

“Look at Conor Benn, they tried to conceal Conor Benn up until the actual fight day, but somebody leaked it and it came out. So if they can conceal people’s test results, they can also make up people’s test results,” McCaskill

Those comments raised a lot of talking points in light of the recent results involving those linked with Matchroom. Conor Benn, Dillian Whyte and Baumgardner’s failed tests have placed serious scrutiny on Matchroom.

This is despite the fact that Hearn confirmed that Matchroom fighters were getting tested more than any fighters. But when it came to McCaskill’s comments, Hearn was not best pleased. 

Hearn Responds To McCaskill

“It’s absolutely the most wild thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I mean, they’ll be hearing from us today. What essentially Jessica McCaskill said – and I don’t mind repeating it because it’s one of the most bizarre things ever – is Alycia had one fight left on her contract, so maybe this was Matchroom trying to disrupt it.

“I mean firstly, that is the most offensive thing I think I’ve ever heard in my life and secondly, the most defamatory thing I’ve ever heard in my life,” Hearn

As a result, McCaskill’s trainer Rick Ramos confirmed that she had received a legal letter from Hearn, as she released a statement in response. 

McCaskill On Her Comments

“What up world Seems like some things have been shaken up the last couple of days. And it seems like I’ve had a pretty decent hand in that, so first I would like to apologise to my fiancé Rick Ramos – also my trainer and manager.

“I know I’ve been stressing you out with all this ruckus. Seems like Matchroom has been offended by the conversation that was had yesterday on ThaBoxingVoice, shout out to ThaBoxingVoice.

“It seems like the overall conversation as a whole might have been misunderstood, but either way my apologies for the conversation and for anyone being offended by the things that I said,” McCaskill

Meanwhile, Eddie Hearn has responded to the news that The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and the UK Anti-Doping Agency [UKAD] have appealed the decision of the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) to remove Conor Benn’s suspension. 

Benn has tested positive for Clomiphene following two failed VADA tests. In response, Benn was suspended by UKAD in April as an investigation began into the circumstances surrounding it.

In response, NADP declared that Benn’s suspension was removed while the BBBofC and UKAD had the right to respond. And now that they have appealed, Hearn had this to say. 

Hearn On Benn

“It’s a disappointing. I feel like he’s gone through every process that’s been asked of him. The Board left it to the last day or two days before to appeal. He’s got to go through this process again. I believe he’ll win again. But I expected [them to appeal] as I said. Nothing surprises me at the moment with the process. It’s another fight he’s got to win, we expect him to win,” Hearn

Nevertheless, there is a chance that Benn could box in the meantime. The removal of the suspension for now does allow Benn to get back in the ring.

However, at a time when Benn has not convinced the boxing community for the reasons that he should not be banned, putting the boxer in the ring may backfire. 

After all, the fighter has still yet to explain how the banned substance entered into his system. You can stay up-to-date with the latest happenings in the world of boxing and MMA by visiting boxingblitz right here.