CONOR BENN and Chris Eubank Jr’s bitter grudge match is close to being announced for Abu Dhabi on June 3.
The second-generation showdown – between the sons of British boxing legends and two-fight rivals Nigel Benn and Eubank Sr – was slated for last October.
ReutersEubank Jr vs Benn is expected to be announced for later this year[/caption]
PAThe first meeting was called off after Benn failed two drugs tests[/caption]
Eubank Jr has been training in Las VegasGetty
The bout collapsed 48 hours out, after news broke that 26-year-old welterweight Benn had failed two VADA drugs tests, adverse findings he still passionately denies.
The fall-out and row is ongoing, with Benn refusing to explain the red flags to the British Boxing Board of Control, so the rearranged clash is heading for the Middle East.
Eubank Jr looked painfully thin boiling down to the 157lbs limit last year so the controversial second-attempt is expected to happen at the middleweight limit of 160lbs.
And the needle is now at an all-time high after Eubank Jr taunted Benn about his doping saga and the undefeated Essex ace accused his nemesis of trying to blackmail him for £1million to cooperate in the attempted cover-up.
In the wake of the debacle, 33-year-old Eubank Jr rushed into a January bout with Liam Smith and suffered a violent fourth-round stoppage.
On Valentines Day the Brighton showman took to Instagram to announce he was activating the rematch clause.
But 34-year-old Smith’s backers, Boxxer and Sky Sports, have never received confirmation from Eubank Jr or his Sauerland promoters, which has kept the victorious Liverpool man in limbo.
A frustrated Smith said: “One side is saying Chris has activated his rematch clause. But the other side is saying he is fighting Benn in Abu Dhabi.
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“I bet as much money he wants, if he does fight Chris next, he will not do him quicker than I did him.”
Sheffield ace Kell Brook, 36, also used social media last week to suggest he was in the running to be Benn’s desert comeback opponent but his Fuerteventura training camp seemed to be cut short.
Smith and Brook had a very public chat on Saturday night in Manchester, where they watched Lawrence Okolie defend his WBO cruiserweight title against David Light.
While the Benn vs Eubank Jr fight will drum up freakshow-like interest on upstart streaming app DAZN, Smith and Brook will be a tough sell as both former world champions approach the ends of their careers.
Eubank Jr has been quiet, while training at the Top Rank gym in Las Vegas.