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MANCHESTER, England (AP) — Chris Eubank Jr. smashed an egg into Conor Benn’s face during a staredown between the rival boxers in a chaotic encounter Tuesday to promote their April 26 bout.
The left-handed smack was a not-so-subtle reference to Benn’s failed doping test that derailed their planned fight in 2022. Benn argued successfully that his consumption of eggs elevated his testosterone levels.
It’s been more than 30 years since the boxers’ fathers — Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank — met twice in the ring in one of Britain’s great rivalries.
After a press conference, they faced off and exchanged words before Eubank Jr. hit Benn, who had to be restrained by several bulky security guards. Eubank Jr. was also held back as both sides were separated.
The fighters, who will square off in two months at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, took to social media afterward.
“That’s the only shot you’ll land on me,” Benn wrote on his X account along with an expletive. “2 rounds you are finished.”
Eubank Jr. wrote: “Apparently egg contamination was the reason for his two failed drugs tests. So I contaminated him with an egg.” In another post featuring a photo of Benn with egg on his face, he wrote, “Eggcellent.”
Benn and Eubank Jr. were scheduled to fight at London’s O2 Arena in October 2022 in a catchweight bout, but it was called off after Benn’s voluntary urine test showed trace amounts of fertility drug Clomiphene, a banned substance that boosts testosterone levels while burning fat.
Benn battled to clear his name and his suspension was lifted in November last year.
The WBC in February 2023 cleared Benn of intentional doping, saying the boxer’s consumption of eggs presented a “reasonable explanation” for his failed test.
The WBC said in its ruling: “Mr. Benn’s documented and highly elevated consumption of eggs during the times relevant to the sample collection raised a reasonable explanation for the adverse finding.” The sanctioning body said there was “no conclusive evidence that Mr. Benn engaged in intentional or knowing ingestion of Clomiphene.”
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AP boxing: https://apnews.com/hub/boxing
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