If a UK fight cannot be agreed, Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn will be held on December 23, in Abu Dhabi.

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn may take their highly anticipated bout to Abu Dhabi on December 23 if they can't secure a UK venue, according to reports. Eddie Hearn, the boxing promoter, is said to have reached a deal for the fight to take place in the Middle East. However, Benn is currently awaiting approval to fight in the UK after failing a drugs test last year. The British Boxing Board of Control is set to appeal the decision, leaving the door open for a potential clash in Abu Dhabi.

UK venue in doubt

The Mail reports that Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn's fight could be moved to Abu Dhabi on December 23 if a UK venue cannot be agreed upon. Eddie Hearn, the boxing promoter, is said to have finalized a deal to host the bout in the Middle East. This comes after Hearn publicly expressed his desire for the fight to take place at Cardiff's Principality Stadium. However, Benn's eligibility to fight in the UK remains uncertain due to a failed drugs test last year.

Benn's eligibility in question

Conor Benn has not yet been given clearance to fight in the UK after failing a drugs test in 2020. The result of the test led to the cancellation of his original bout with Chris Eubank Jr. Benn was subsequently cleared to return to boxing in July by the National Anti-Doping Panel. However, the British Boxing Board of Control plans to appeal the decision in the coming weeks, as they have yet to reinstate Benn's license. The uncertainty surrounding his eligibility has prompted Eddie Hearn to explore alternative options.

Possible Abu Dhabi showdown

With just 11 weeks until Conor Benn's scheduled fight with Chris Eubank Jr, Eddie Hearn has made plans to hold the bout in Abu Dhabi. The clash is set to take place on December 23, the same night as Tyson Fury's heavyweight title unification fight against Oleksandr Usyk. Hearn has stated his intention for the fight to happen on that date, but it remains to be seen if it will be officially added to the schedule. If the Benn vs Eubank Jr fight goes ahead in Abu Dhabi, it could potentially impact the timing of Fury vs Usyk.

Potential scheduling conflict

If Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr fight in Abu Dhabi on December 23, it could have implications for Tyson Fury's fight against Oleksandr Usyk. There is a possibility that Fury vs Usyk could be pushed back to January to accommodate the clash between Benn and Eubank Jr. Fury is already set to face Francis Ngannou in an exhibition bout at the end of October, leaving him with just eight weeks to prepare for the biggest fight of his career if the scheduling conflict arises.