Discussions for a fight between Conor Benn and Manny Pacquiao are underway despite an official outcome of the Brit's drug test failures being announced.
Benn, 26, failed two drug tests in the lead-up to his ill-fated fight against domestic rival Chris Eubank Jr last August. 'The Destroyer' believed his first test failure, for the banned substance clomifene, was a "faulty" result but he later tested positive for the same drug in a second test.
The Brit proceeded to relinquish his British boxing licence whilst under investigation and has been working with doctors and lawyers for months in an attempt to clear his name. The World Boxing Council (WBC) has spent over a month breaking down a 270-page file submitted by Benn's team that claims his innocence.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has insisted Benn is free to fight and has not been suspended in any form. Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn confirmed that preliminary talks have started for a fight between Benn and Pacquiao, telling Boxing King Media : "I would not be surprised to see Conor Benn fight Manny Pacquaio next, but it's not signed. There's been a couple of discussions, minor discussions."
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Former eight-weight world champion Pacquiao announced his professional retirement after losing out on the WBA welterweight title to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021. The boxing legend returned to the ring last December in an exhibition fight against YouTuber and 'martial arts expert' DK Yoo.
Benn is unbeaten in 21 professional fights and is keen on making his return after being given the green light to fight. Hearn vented his frustration over the investigation into Benn's test failures being dragged out and suggested the Brit could fight without an official outcome being made.
"He's back in training, he wants to fight and is being told he can fight," Hearn told Boxing Social. "We're kind of holding him back for that decision, he's saying 'Well if this document shows my innocence and a commission will see that document and licence me, I'm ready to fight'. My question to the situation is, at what point do we say it's enough waiting and it's time to fight again?
"I want someone to come out of the panel and say 'This is the findings'. The public are not going to listen to me or Conor Benn. I don't want to come out and say 'It's proven now', I want the people in charge of the testing to say that. Until that happens, he's never really going to get cleared but it's nearly time."
