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Promoter Eddie Hearn has made it clear that stringent drug testing will be in place for Conor Benn’s next fight, which is expected to take place on June 3 in Abu Dhabi. Benn, a British welterweight who failed two tests for the same performance-enhancing substance last year, is rumored to face eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao in what could be a highly-anticipated match-up. Hearn has been criticized for his handling of Benn’s failed drug tests and has been vocal in his belief that his charge should be allowed to fight without waiting for the conclusion of an ongoing investigation by the British Boxing Board of Control and United Kingdom Anti-Doping. In a recent interview, Hearn assured fans that the drug testing protocol for Benn’s next fight would be “more rigorous than any fight that has ever existed.” However, he did not provide any specific details about the program that would be employed. Benn has been critical of the World Boxing Council, which suggested that an overconsumption of eggs led to his positive tests. He has argued that clomifene was never in his body and has pointed the finger at laboratory procedures conducted by the third-party, Las Vegas-based company Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA), which administered his two positive tests. The WBC and VADA are partners in the Clean Boxing Program, a mandatory clean-up program for all fighters who are ranked with the organization. In the past, the WBC has dropped fighters from its rankings if they fail to enroll in its program. The WBC has stated that Benn will have to work with a nutritionist and “be subject to regular anti-doping testing.” VADA has not publicly responded to Benn’s statements. It remains to be seen how the more exhaustive drug testing procedure promised by Hearn will take shape. However, fans and critics alike will undoubtedly be watching closely to see how Benn performs in his next fight and whether he can overcome the controversy surrounding his past failed drug tests.

At UFC 286 this weekend, Edwards and Usman will wrap up their trilogy. Edwards, who defeated Usman by knockout at UFC 278 in a rematch, will defend his title against the opponent he dethroned The winner will establish themselves as the undisputed welterweight champion and one of the best fighters in the world on a per-pound scale. Who will contend for the welterweight belt next is as unpredictable as the match this weekend. After a disastrous weight cut before his most recent bout, Chimaev, who hasn't competed since defeating Kevin Holland at UFC 279., appeared to be going up to middleweight. Chimaev appeared to retract his speculated switch to middleweight in a recent Instagram comment on one of the UFC's latest posts. "Soon I'll take my belt from [these] two clowns," Chimaev commented. Chimaev has hinted at middleweight fights with Robert Whittaker, Bo Nickal, and other fighters. In September 2020, he fought at middleweight and knocked out Gerald Meerschaert in the first round. If the UFC decides to give Chimaev another shot, he might be the next welterweight championship contender, and Edwards or Usman will be waiting for him with the title.

Irishman Dennis Hogan is set to defend his IBO Super-Welterweight World Title against James Metcalf in Dublin, Ireland on Saturday, May 20th. The fight will take place on the undercard of Katie Taylor’s undisputed clash with Chantelle Cameron, which is set to be a huge homecoming event for Taylor. Hogan, who is based in Newstead, Australia, returns home to fight in Ireland for the first time in his professional career. He heads into his maiden defense of the IBO 154lbs Title on a three-fight winning streak, most recently outpointing Sam Eggington over 12 rounds at the Newcastle Entertainment Centre last October. ‘Hurricane’ Hogan (31-4-1, 7 KOs), who was born in Kildare, Ireland, controversially lost out on points to Mexico’s Jaime Munguia in a challenge for the WBO Super-Welterweight World Title in April 2019. He then jumped up to middleweight to take on WBC World Champion Jermall Charlo in his next fight, but was stopped in seven rounds by the undefeated Texas fighter. Liverpool’s James Metcalf (24-2, 15 KOs) halted Brooklyn’s Carl Pennington in six rounds at the First Direct Arena in Leeds last time out in December, in what was the first defense of his WBA Continental Super-Welterweight Title. That win followed on from his impressive career-best showing against Kerman Lejarraga at the Bilbao Arena in Spain last summer. The former Commonwealth and WBC International Super-Welterweight Champion, son of Liverpool fight legend Shea ‘Shamrock Express’ Neary, rejuvenated his career by outpointing hometown hero Lejarraga, a two-weight European Champion, in an excellent display of patience and boxing IQ. Metcalf’s only defeats in the professional ranks have come at the hands of Bermondsey’s Ted Cheeseman in a jaw-dropping battle for the vacant British Title in Gibraltar in March 2021, and Northampton’s Kieron Conway at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool in October 2021. Hogan expressed his excitement for the opportunity to defend his title and return to Ireland to fight for the first time as a professional. He called it a “truly special moment” to be on the card with Irish superstar Katie Taylor. Metcalf, who has always wanted to fight in Ireland, sees this as a dream come true. He considers Hogan a “really good fighter and a genuine world top 10,” and expects the fight to be tough and cagey at times, but ultimately catch fire and provide fans with a great fight. Matchroom Sport Chairman Eddie Hearn spoke highly of both fighters, noting Hogan’s history of taking on tough opponents and Metcalf’s resilience in bouncing back from his two defeats. He expects the fight to be another fantastic war for the May 20 event in Dublin, which will be broadcast live around the world on DAZN.

The world of mixed martial arts is no stranger to controversy, and the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of Conor McGregor's return to the Octagon is no exception. McGregor, one of the biggest stars in the history of the sport, recently announced his intention to return to competition after a long layoff due to injury. However, his claims that a meeting with the US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) and two clean drug tests are all that stand between him and a return to the UFC have been disputed by USADA officials. “I’m not rushing nothing,” McGregor said on “The MMA Hour.” “There’s hurdles and whatnot. But we’re in contact. We’re in constant communication, and there’s an interview scheduled, and a meeting (that will) happen, and then it will be official. But the six months thing, what they had said was two clean tests, and off I go. So, I assume it won’t be too long.” But, USADA has a different concept regarding how two clean tests should take place, and it involves returning to the testing pool for a six-month run. That regulation was established in collaboration with the UFC, but it comes with a disclaimer stating that the UFC may disregard the six-month testing requirement in rare instances. If Conor is being truthful, he might just need two clean tests before he can go back. This would imply that perhaps the UFC is granting him whatever sort of waiver, which Dana White has previously been blamed for helping individuals like Brock Lesnar. The Irishman's return to competitive action is the ultimate objective. Nonetheless, the concerns about his USADA and qualification won't vanish by themselves. Since Conor McGregor's remarks, USADA emphasized that six months of screening is necessary according to their statement concerning McGregor. "While we meet with all athletes who enter or re-enter the testing pool, we do not currently have a meeting set with Conor and, as of today, we have not received notice of his coming out of retirement to compete... In addition to two negative tests, an athlete must make themself available for testing for six months before returning to competition. This is a fair way to ensure an athlete does not use the retirement status to gain an unfair advantage... Conor should be in the testing pool for the full six-month period." Although McGregor's comments about joining the UFC again and entering a mandatory testing program may have been a little questionable, it nonetheless shows how anxious he is really to come back to the octagon and engage at the pinnacle of success. Notwithstanding all he claims, McGregor continues to not be part of USADA's testing pool as of right now, and it appears that he will require six months of tests.

The world of mixed martial arts is abuzz with excitement as Conor McGregor, one of the most dynamic and charismatic fighters in the history of the sport has announced his intentions to pursue a welterweight title shot with a win over Michael Chandler. McGregor, who has won titles in both the featherweight and lightweight divisions, is no stranger to taking on new challenges and pushing himself to the limit. McGregor indicated that he might travel to UFC 286 to witness Leon Edwards vs. Kamaru Usman 3 on a special episode of The MMA Hour. He has a strong interest in how it turns out. “Yeah, I’d like [a welterweight title shot], So I’d like that,” McGregor said. “I may be present for the card, we are making moves at the Black Forge in London, so I was scheduled to go out there so after this, Gunni’s (Gunnar Nelson) is also on the card so it would be good to see him live. It would be good to watch that welterweight title for sure.” The weight division of McGregor vs. Chandler, the UFC's season-ending matchup just after The Ultimate Fighter 31, has not been made official by the promotion. Nonetheless, Dana White stated publicly that it will be rather lightweight. The road to a welterweight title shot won't be an easy one, however. Michael Chandler, McGregor's opponent, is a formidable opponent who has made a name for himself in the lightweight division. Chandler has impressive knockout power, excellent wrestling skills, and a relentless work ethic that has earned him a legion of fans. If McGregor can defeat Chandler, it would be a significant achievement and a clear signal that he is ready to take on the best welterweights in the world. After fracturing his leg at UFC 264, the former two-division champion has gained weight, raising questions about PED usage, and resulting in the admission that he was not included in the UFC's drug screening program run by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency. It's unclear if McGregor would receive a championship opportunity if he prevailed. But Edwards as well as Usman both have mentioned the Irishman in the past, and a showdown between the pair would really be huge because McGregor would be seeking to become the very first person to hold the title of three-weight world champion. But first, McGregor must prevail over Chandler in his upcoming bout. McGregor has fought 3 times at welterweight up to this point, sharing his matches with Nate Diaz in the first two before crushing Donald Cerrone in a rematch in 2020. Afterward, he lost to Dustin Poirier in back-to-back lightweight contests, dropping the first one via knockout and the second through a leg break in a trilogy battle.

Artur Beterbiev, the reigning lineal, WBC, IBF and WBO light heavyweight champion, has been ordered to defend his title against England’s Callum Smith by the WBC. The fight has generated significant interest between their respective promoters, Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing, with the two promotional powerhouses known for one-upping each other. Beterbiev has until April 11 to reach terms with Smith to avoid a purse bid hearing. Less than two months ago, Beterbiev defended his title against Anthony Yarde, en route to an eighth-round knockout victory. The win satisfied a WBO mandatory, which was previously delayed due to an injury suffered by Beterbiev to postpone original plans for a fight last October 29 in London. Although demand for an undisputed showdown between Beterbiev and WBA light heavyweight titlist Dmitry Bivol has grown, the WBC has insisted that its mandatory would be next in line. Smith earned the number-one slot following a fourth-round knockout of Mathieu Bauderlique in their WBC title eliminator last August 20 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Plans were initially in place for Smith to take a stay-busy fight atop a March 11 DAZN show in his Liverpool hometown. However, a back injury forced him to withdraw from the fight, which put him on the shelf for roughly 6-8 weeks per medical orders. The timeframe will not stand in the way of the WBC’s deadline to satisfy its mandatory. Beterbiev first won the IBF light heavyweight title with a November 2017 12th round knockout of Enrico Koelling. The 38-year-old from Montreal by way of Russia has made seven title defenses, including unification knockout wins over lineal/WBC champ Oleksandr Gvozdyk in October 2019 and WBO titlist Joe Smith Jr. last June 18 in New York City. The fight between Beterbiev and Smith promises to be an exciting encounter with both boxers known for their aggressive fighting styles. Boxing fans around the world will be eagerly anticipating the outcome of this matchup.

British light-heavyweight boxer Joshua Buatsi has decided to part ways with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom stable and sign with Ben Shalom’s Boxxer to fight on Sky Sports. Buatsi’s decision to leave DAZN in order to fight on national television was driven by his desire for people to easily access and watch his fights. He stated that he wants everyone to be able to tune in and watch him fight, without having to download an app or enter personal details. Buatsi has had a successful career so far, winning all of his 16 fights and securing a British title. Despite being offered over £1m by Hearn to fight Dmitry Bivol for his WBA light heavyweight title, Buatsi is more focused on becoming a mandatory challenger rather than taking a voluntary shot. He wants to work his way up the rankings and be in a position where he can challenge for a title whenever the opportunity arises. Buatsi’s first fight with Boxxer is set to take place on May 6 in Birmingham, and he is excited to put on a show for his fans. He plans to head back to the United States to train with Virgil Hunter, who has been his coach since 2019. Buatsi’s decision to switch to Boxxer has created anticipation among boxing fans, and it will be interesting to see how he performs in his upcoming fights. With his talent and determination, Buatsi has the potential to become a world champion and cement his place as one of the best light-heavyweights in the world.

The World Boxing Council (WBC) has formally reinstated Conor Benn into its welterweight rankings, placing him at No. 7 in the latest rankings released on Wednesday. This comes after the WBC concluded its investigation into Benn’s two positive drug tests for the banned substance clomiphene, in which it suggested that Benn unknowingly ingested the performance-enhancing substance due to an “elevated consumption of eggs.” Benn, a British puncher, was previously ranked No. 5 with the WBC, but he was dropped from the rankings last year after failing two drug tests for the same substance. The WBC justified its decision based on statutes in its Clean Boxing Program, which requires all fighters ranked within the Top 15 across all weight classes to undergo testing by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association. Although Benn remains absent from the rankings of other major sanctioning bodies, including the WBO, WBA, and IBF, he has publicly maintained his innocence and is eager to return to the ring. He has even stated that he is not concerned about the prospect of not fighting in his homeland for the foreseeable future. Benn’s positive tests for clomiphene, a substance typically used by women to treat infertility, have raised concerns in the boxing community due to its potential to boost testosterone levels in men. However, Benn has recently contended that the substance was never in his body and has instead blamed laboratory procedures. Despite ongoing investigations by the British Boxing Board of Control and the United Kingdom Anti-Doping, Benn is scheduled to return to the ring on June 3 in Abu Dhabi in a card promoted by Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom. Eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao has been suggested as a potential opponent. Benn’s reinstatement into the WBC rankings has generated mixed reactions, with some praising the WBC for its leniency while others expressing concerns over the organization’s handling of doping violations. Nonetheless, Benn’s return to the limelight highlights the importance of maintaining the integrity of the sport through rigorous anti-doping measures and strict enforcement of regulations.

Rafael Fiziev hopes to challenge for the lightweight title if he triumphs at UFC 286, but he also acknowledges that another fighter in the division is more deserving of the opportunity. In the co-main event of UFC 286, "Ataman" will face Justin Gaethje, and many fans are anticipating one of the evening's most thrilling fights between the two lightweights. The winner of Fiziev vs. Gaethje might easily be the next contender for UFC Lightweight Champion Islam Makhachev, but another top lightweight combination is set to clash at UFC 288 when former champion Charles Oliveira takes on Beneil Dariush. When asked what he would need to do to distinguish himself from the winner of Oliveira vs. Dariush and secure a title chance, Fiziev, 33, conceded that Dariush already has a compelling case for facing Makhachev next. “Yeah I also think like if I [beat Gaethje], if I [beat] him I deserve that title shot,” Fiziev answered. “But, UFC also make it how they want and I can’t say. Like if they give title shot for winner of Oliveira and Dariush, then okay. Dariush, I think he deserve it more than anyone in this division. If he give me after this fight, also happy, you know?” Although "Benny" has been a member of the UFC roster since 2014, his current victory streak, which he began in 2018, is his best run of success to date. The 33-year-old has won eight straight contests, and on the main card of UFC 280, he most recently defeated Mateusz Gamrot by unanimous decision. The contest between Fiziev and Gaethje is expected to have a significant impact on the lightweight title race.

Jermell Charlo Gives Tim Tszyu His Due, but Says He’s Not Worried About Fighting Him Tim Tszyu’s recent victory over Tony Harrison to claim the WBO interim title impressed WBC, WBA, WBO, and IBF champion Jermell Charlo, but he is not worried about facing Tszyu when he is fully recovered from his hand injury. Charlo was originally scheduled to fight Tszyu on January 28th, but was forced to withdraw due to the injury. Tszyu then took the opportunity to challenge Harrison, the only fighter to beat Charlo, and won convincingly. Charlo said that Tszyu didn’t show him anything new, and that his own style, movement, and power would make Tszyu do completely different things in the ring. While he admitted that Tszyu would be a tough fight because he’s coming forward, Charlo believes he’s perfect for his style. He also expressed confidence that Tszyu couldn’t take his punch, which he considers to be different from others. After the fight, Tszyu praised Harrison and declared that he was ready for Charlo. He also stated that he doesn’t think Charlo is afraid of him, and that fighters aren’t scared, it’s just not part of their mentality. Charlo, known for his angry persona, was described by Tszyu as a “real angry man” who “barks a lot.” Charlo’s injury has postponed his anticipated clash with Tszyu, but once he is fully recovered, the two fighters will face off for the undisputed junior middleweight championship. While Tszyu’s win over Harrison has shown his potential, Charlo remains confident that he will come out on top.

New Zealand middleweight contender Andrei Mikhailovich is gearing up for a fight that could catapult him into a world title bout. Mikhailovich has moved up to fifth place in the IBF rankings after an impressive 19-0 record with 11 knockouts. He is set to take on Venezuelan Edisson Saltarin on April 27 at Fight For Life. If Mikhailovich wins, he could be in line to challenge the winner of the IBF world title bout between Brazilian Esquiva Falcao and Australian Michael Zerafa. Mikhailovich’s promoter, Dean Lonergan, said that a victory over Saltarin should see him progress to the number three spot. Mikhailovich is ecstatic about his recent rise in the rankings and is looking forward to the next step. He has his sights set on his upcoming bout against Saltarin and is confident he will emerge victorious. Mikhailovich’s rise means he has overtaken heavyweight Joseph Parker (WBC No. 7 and WBO No. 10) as New Zealand’s second highest-ranked male boxer behind cruiserweight David Light (WBO No. 1). In addition to Mikhailovich, Peach Boxing stable has three other fighters on the cusp of world titles. Cruiserweight David Light is set to take on Brit Lawrence Okolie in a WBO world cruiserweight showdown on March 25. Mea Motu is also set to fight Canada’s Tania Walters for IBO Super Bantamweight title in the main event of Fight For Life. Meanwhile, Jerome Pampellone, the classy light heavyweight, has surged to number 10 in the IBF rankings and will fight Mose Auimatagi on the Burger King I Am Hope Fight For Life card on April 27. Trainer Isaac Peach said he was thrilled that things were starting to fall into place for Mikhailovich after several high-profile potential fights fell over last year. Peach Boxing is making a name for itself in the sport in New Zealand, with Lonergan comparing it to the past deeds of Kevin Barry, trainer of David Tua and Parker. Lonergan said that Peach Boxing is already committed to global excellence and has established itself as a beacon for the sport in New Zealand.

KSI, the English YouTuber and CEO of Misfits Boxing, has revealed his plans for the remainder of 2023 and the end of his boxing career. In a tweet on Monday morning, KSI announced that he intends to have three more fights in the boxing world this year, including a December matchup with either Jake Paul or Tommy Fury, before retiring from boxing and returning to music. KSI’s first fight of the year will be on May 13 at Misfits Boxing 007. Following that, he will face the winner of the upcoming Kingpyn Tournament in August at Misfits Boxing 010. KSI then hopes to cap off his boxing career with a high-profile fight against either Paul or Fury in December. Tommy Fury defeated Jake Paul via split decision in their February matchup in Saudi Arabia, and both fighters have expressed interest in an immediate rematch. However, it is unclear whether a rematch will take place and when it will occur. KSI is currently unbeaten throughout his boxing career, which includes a split decision victory over Logan Paul in December 2019. In his last three exhibition bouts, KSI has secured three straight stoppage victories over Swarmz, Luis Alcarez Pineda, and Faze Temperrr. KSI’s announcement of his upcoming fights and his plan to retire from boxing has caused a stir in the boxing world. Many are eagerly anticipating his upcoming fights and the potential matchup with either Jake Paul or Tommy Fury. KSI has become a significant figure in the boxing world in recent years, with his boxing events attracting large crowds and garnering attention from fans worldwide. With three more fights on the horizon, including a potential matchup with one of the sport’s biggest stars, KSI’s presence in the boxing world is sure to continue to grow.