Nigel Benn fears his legacy as boxing's Dark Destroyer could be tarnished by his son's doping test scandal.
Conor Benn's catchweight fight with Chris Eubank Jr was dramatically called off last week after traces of fertility drug clomifene, which can increase testosterone levels, were discovered in a sample. The contest, rekindling the rivalry between their fathers Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank in the 1990s, had sold out the O2 Arena in London.
The British Boxing Board of Control "prohibited" the fight, just 72 hours before the fighters were due to touch gloves, when news of Benn's failed test broke. And Nigel Benn, who won world titles in two middleweight divisions, has told lifelong pal Kevin Lueshing: “If I believed he had been taking illegal banned substances for this fight – or any fight – I would have hung him out to dry – but I don't believe he did.”
Lueshing said: “I have known Nigel for more than 30 years and the whole family is devastated. He said, 'I've worked so hard to develop my legacy with the British public and I don't want to be remembered as the Dark Destroyer whose son tested positive for a banned substance.The whole family is in total shock – I've been with my son 24/7 for the last 10 weeks and I know he doesn't cut corners.'
“But Nigel also knows how it works with doping violations – you're presumed guilty until proven innocent if you return a positive test. He told me, 'The arc of the universe bends towards justice and I believe justice will be done. One way or another we'll get to the bottom of this. The public are entitled to condemn him but Conor is my son, I love him unconditionally and I have to stand by him.'
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“And he said, 'There were no titles at stake, no belts - just two family names, two sons of two fathers with a history.' Nigel and I go back a long way, and he has authorised me to speak on his behalf about this. I can't tell you how devastating this whole episode has been for his family.”
Benn's wife Caroline, who was in tears when news of the failed doping test broke, had flown into London for the fight, along with his twin sister and younger brother. Eubank's promoter Kalle Sauerland confirmed they knew of the failed drugs test weeks before the fight - but they were originally happy for the fight to go ahead until the British Boxing Board of Control stepped in.
