Conor Benn is eager to get to the bottom of the drug test failure that saw caused his fight with Chris Eubank Jr to be postponed, according to Ricky Hatton.
Benn and Eubank Jr were scheduled to settle their family feud at The O2 on Saturday night, 30 years on from their fathers' rematch that ended in a draw. But the fight was called off after Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomifene, a drug that is usually prescribed to treat infertility in women but can also boost testosterone production in men.
Hatton, who turned 44 on Thursday, revealed the conversation he had with Benn after he was notified of his test failure. "Conor's said to me 'I don't know how this has happened, I can't wait to get to the bottom of this myself' and I believe him wholeheartedly, I do. At the end of the day, even though I believe Conor when he says it, rules are rules," he told iD Boxing.
"Drug tests are put there for a reason and if there's a drug which he's taken that will enhance his performance over his opponent, then it's off. People are saying the B-sample hasn't come back yet, but that doesn't matter as a test has been failed. I have no doubt that Conor will want to get to the bottom of it more than anyone."
Hatton's fighter Chloe Watson was scheduled to compete in her fourth professional fight on the undercard of the event, with the ring legend adding that he was "devastated" she had ben robbed of her chance to compete on the grand stage.
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"I'm devastated for Chloe, she's worked really really hard for it and for someone who just three fights under to belt to be performing on such a big stage, it's obviously very upsetting. I think we can say the same for everyone who was on the undercard," he added.
Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn pushed hard for the event to remain intact but he was overpowered after the British Boxing Board of Control prohibited the fight from taking place. Hearn said he plans to take action against the board after their withdrawal from the event was "procedurally flawed", stating: "It is undeniable that the British Boxing Board of Control's decision to withdraw their sanctioning was procedurally flawed and without due process. That remains a legal issue between the promoters and the Board which we intend to pursue."
