Manny Pacquiao to make comeback in fight with Conor Benn

Despite the official result of Conor Benn's failed drug tests being made public, negotiations for a fight with Manny Pacquiao are still in progress.

Prior to his unfortunate battle against domestic opponent Chris Eubank Jr. last August, Benn, 26, failed two drug tests.

The Destroyer thought his initial test result for the illegal drug clomifene, which was negative, was "faulty," but he later tested positive for the same drug in a subsequent test.

While he was being investigated, the British boxer went on to renounce his British boxing license. He has been attempting to clean his name for months by consulting with a doctor and a lawyer. The 270-page document supplied by Benn's team that asserts his innocence has been the subject of a month-long investigation by the World Boxing Council (WBC).

Mauricio Sulaiman, president of the WBC, has stated that Benn is not suspended in any way and is allowed to compete. Eddie Hearn, the head of Matchroom Boxing, revealed that early negotiations for a fight between Benn and Pacquiao have begun.

"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," said Hearn to Boxing King Media.

Pacquiao's return to boxing

After Yordenis Ugas defeated Pacquiao in August 2021 for the WBA welterweight championship, the former eight-weight world champion Pacquiao declared his professional retirement. In an exhibition match against YouTuber and "martial arts expert" DK Yoo in December of last year, the boxing icon made a comeback to the ring.

Benn has 21 professional fights under his belt and is eager to go back in the ring after receiving the go-ahead. Hearn expressed his anger over the prolonged investigation into Benn's test failures and claimed the British man may compete without a formal decision being made.

"He's back in training, he wants to fight and is being told he can fight," Hearn said. "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?"

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