Reports of a fresh drug controversy stirred up Eddie Hearn‘s memories. The Matchroom honcho has quite a few reasons to smile. After Jack Catterall, Murodjon Akhmadaliev has done the English promoter proud. In Monte Carlo, the Uzbek boxer dispatched Ricardo Espinoza Franco to a sweet sleep, moving an inch closer to that historical showdown against Naoya Inoue. But more than happiness, perhaps there must be a sense of a big relief.

Beginning in October 2022, Conor Benn found himself mired in a controversy related to a banned substance. Last month, the ordeal eventually became a thing of the past. Benn and Hearn breathed easy after the United Kingdom Anti-Doping Agency (UKAD) and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) chose not to appeal the independent National Anti-Doping Panel’s decision to revoke Benn’s provisional suspension. Thus legend Nigel Benn‘s son can resume boxing in the UK.

Dennis McCann’s First Steps into Adversity

Eddie Hearn was speaking with ‘The Stomping Ground’. He shared his thoughts on the possibilities of the Akhmadaliev-Inoue clash. However, the conversation soon segued into the firestorm caused by Dennis McCann‘s failure to clear the VADA drug test. The channel’s founder, Charlie Parsons, sought his thoughts on the latest controversy that has marred one of the most anticipated events of the year.

Like many fans and followers, Eddie Hearn was also looking forward to the all-British clash between Dennis McCann and Peter McGrail. But the super bantamweight bout met with cancelation as increasing reports suggest that the 23-year-old Londoner returned ‘adverse findings’ following a VADA-conducted anti-doping test.

HE Turki Alalshikh subsequently shared, “Mr. McCann’s scheduled fight next Saturday will no longer take place, as the relevant parties investigate the matter further. No further comment on this will be made at this time.”

Given what he and Conor Benn went through, Eddie Hearn empathized with McCann. “The fighter in this occasion will be 100% presumed guilty because it’s just what people do,” he said.

Worth Being Given a Chance

Everyone deserves a chance to clear their name, he explained. ‘The Menace’ should be provided with an opportunity to go through the whole process (related to banned substance testing). However, Hearn admitted, the situation never bodes well for a fighter while he reels under tremendous pressure.

“But obviously it never looks good, and he’s got to have a lot of backbone here because I know he (McCann) doesn’t have the profile of Conor Benn, but having seen what Conor Benn went through and others, it’s a very, very arduous process and task that requires a lot of tenacity and the ability to absorb a huge amount of stick,” said Eddie Hearn.

Charlie Parson asked whether he had any details about the type of substance found in McCann’s system or any other insights. The Matchroom boss replied in the negative. More so, Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions managed Dennis McCann, hence he wasn’t privy to any detailed information.

What’s your take? Do you think Dennis McCann should also be given the opportunity to explain his side of the story?