Conor Benn has told talkSPORT that he is currently in negotiations with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios over a shot at the Mexican’s title.
Benn was recently cleared of any wrongdoing by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) after his failed drug tests before his cancelled fight with Chris Eubank Jr in October 2022.
The 28-year-old tested positive for the banned substance Clomifene in two pre-fight tests carried out by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) and was handed a provisional suspension by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD).
His suspension was briefly lifted in July 2023 by the NADP, allowing Benn to compete in a pair of bouts with Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson under an American license.
However, it was subsequently reinstated again following a successful appeal by the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) and UKAD.
The NADP has since reversed that decision, saying it was ‘not comfortably satisfied’ that UKAD had proved Benn had committed a doping offence and so the Brit is now free to resume his career barring another appeal.
Matchroom Boxing chief Eddie Hearn recently declared that they have entered into talks over re-booking Benn vs Eubank Jr but ‘The Destroyer’ insists a world title fight with Barrios will take precedence if they can get a deal over the line.
“We’re in talks with Barrios for the WBC world title and if there is anything that is going to make me pick over the Eubank fight it would be the WBC world title,” Benn told talkSPORT’s Gareth A Davies.
Barrios defended his title against Abel Ramos on the Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson undercard last week.
Both men scored a knockdown each in an entertaining scrap which ended in a draw, meaning Barrios retained his green and gold strap.
Asked what he made of Barrios’ performance, Benn added: “I don’t think he looked great, he’s a great fighter, a tough Mexican fighter but I don’t think he looked great.
“I think he is built for me, he will come out firing. I feel rejuvenated and full of life.
“The fight is Florida (Orozco) and the fight in Vegas (Dobson) I said to Tony [Sims] (Benn’s trainer) ‘I don’t think I want to fight anymore’.
“That was me at that stage, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to fight.
“I didn’t want to fight, to be honest with you. But discipline got me through.
“It wasn’t about motivation, I was the most unmotivated geezer going.
“It wasn’t about motivation, it was about discipline and I’ve shown more discipline, work ethic and ambition in the past two years than I have in my whole career.
“Staying ready, staying in the gym irrelevant of what people are saying, my own people, painting my heart black.
“So when I get that you are cleared of any wrongdoing moment, which I have just had, I’m ready to go.
“I feel like I am full of life, and I’m ready to take what is mine.”
Barrios may be Benn’s first choice for his next opponent but that doesn’t mean he has forgotten about Eubank Jr.
“I want to smash his head in,” Benn said of his bitter rival. “Personally, that is the reality. I know a lot of people aren’t going to like that but that is the reality.
“You don’t rub salt into my wounds, never kick a man when he is down.
“Or if you do kick me when I’m down you better make sure the job gets done, if not I get up again and you’re in trouble and that is how I feel.”
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