Conor Benn has offered a profoundly candid account of his life following a period of intense difficulty, revealing that he felt like “a quarter of the man” he is now after failing two drug tests in 2022. The ordeal is set to culminate next Saturday with his highly anticipated fight against Chris Eubank Jr., a contest originally slated for three years prior.
Initially, Benn’s career was disrupted when positive tests for clomifene resulted in a penalty. However, he successfully defended himself against the accusations, maintaining his innocence throughout. Despite this eventual vindication, the emotional repercussions of the situation have been significant, as described in an exclusive interview with the Daily Mail.
“There were times when simply arriving at the gym brought on overwhelming distress,” Benn recounted. “I would often be consumed by sobbing during my drive, grappling with the question of how I could possibly continue living this way. The truth is, I desperately wished it hadn’t happened.”
He elaborated, stating: “The experience shattered me entirely; I was reduced to a shadow of my former self—specifically, a quarter of the person I am today. The inability to cope, the struggle to accept reality, led me into a destructive spiral.”
The scrutiny he faced persisted even after his name was cleared, particularly considering the earlier controversy surrounding an egg-throwing incident with Eubank Jr. Despite this continued criticism, Benn expressed a defiant attitude.
“I’m very misunderstood, but also don’t give a s**t, you know,” he remarked. “It’s important to me that I can be myself, without fear of judgment.”
The impact extended beyond himself, affecting his family deeply. His father, Nigel Benn – himself a former professional boxer – was profoundly affected by the scandal.
“My dad and I were experiencing this together,” Benn explained. “He was devastated; he couldn’t support me, and I couldn’t offer him solace. He was broken, and we would return home each day consumed by uncontrollable crying. It felt like a shared childhood trauma—a grown man weeping on his father’s shoulder.”
“I would often find myself sobbing uncontrollably in his arms, repeatedly expressing my regret. I had never witnessed him so profoundly diminished,” he continued. “It took an immense toll – not just on him, but on all of us. Tony [Pua], Eddie [Hearn] and everyone around me felt the heat too.”
The situation highlights the intense pressure athletes face and the personal cost associated with public scrutiny.
