On Thursday, October 6th, the news starts to trickle through - Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn has been canceled.
Since Benn's failed drug test was reported on Wednesday morning, many in the hotel lobby have been waiting for a decision.
Benn returned an adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug after testing positive for a banned drug.
There are still many fighters in the lobby, including light and bantamweights.
Eddie ran upstairs suddenly. Benn and his father left quietly and out of sight. Versace luggage is being loaded into a vehicle.
Felix Cash left the car park about an hour and a half after he was booked to fight. He shares a coach with Benn, and he is angry. The man left again.
Arthur and Courtenay are not aware that the entire card has been canceled.
The official announcement is made at 16:06. The news conference lasts about four minutes.
Questions from the media are not permitted.
Had Benn v Eubank Jr gone ahead, British boxing would have been in worse shape.
Good sense prevailed even if Matchroom pointed the finger at the British Boxing Board of Control.
The fight was banned by the Board as it was not in the interests of boxing. It seemed like it stuck to its guns.
The right result was reached despite it being a grim day for boxing.
"They wanted it to happen so they worked hard to make it happen," Carl Froch said.
99% of people will agree that the safety of the fighters is important in boxing.
Money has been invested into The Destroyer. The fight is thought to be worth at least 15 million dollars.
One of Matchroom's most popular stars is Benn. In the UK, he is front and center.
The son of a boxing legend, he has become a vicious knockout artist on the verge of a world title shot.
Benn's star was so bright that organizers were willing to overlook a three-weight difference between him and Eubank to make the so called "Mega fight" this Saturday at the O2 Arena in London.
The week leading up to the fight was devoted to Chris Eubank, 33, who dropped down to 157 pounds for the first time in his career.
Questions are being asked about boxing's anti-doping protocols following the cancellation of the fight. Benn is facing a battle for his reputation.
The Matchroom and broadcast partners believed Benn was innocent of any wrongdoing.
Both camps cite legal issues that prevent them from revealing any details about the basis for that confidence.
Benn failed a drug test administered by the Vada, a third party hired by organizers to conduct further testing to what is provided by the Board's testing partner.
The British Boxing Board of Control does not have the power to suspend Benn. He hasn't been given the due process that other people have been given.
The anti-doping protocol isn't easy to understand.
There was no immediate suspension for Benn because Vada had no power to do so. It's not clear whether the Better Business Bureau will act on test results administered by a third party.
There will be people wondering why this is a grey area.
Why isn't it clean if he failed the drug test? Is he not allowed to be in this country? Will he be fined? If you fail a drugs test in a sport, what are the consequences?
I don't think I know what's going on.
The B sample is included. I don't know if it has been tested this week. Both camps say they knew about the results for a couple of weeks before Wednesday, but it wasn't tested.
Bunce said that the test was on September 23.
Bunce said there are questions that they haven't answered. We were doing nothing between the 23rd of September and yesterday. How were we doing?
It's not clear when it was given all the details about the positive tests.
The Board and its general secretary didn't respond to many requests for comment from the British Broadcasting Corporation.
After the story was leaked to the press, the public statements and the ban on the fight were made.
Billy Joe failed a Vada test in the build-up to his fight, but he didn't face repercussions from the British Boxing Board of Control.
The Massachusetts State Athletic Commission denied him a boxing licence because of the test result and he was forced to give up his WBO title.
The English boxer tested positive for oxilofrine, a banned substance in competition. Drugs can't be used on fight night and the day before.
clomifene is a fertility drug that is banned at all times.
We're disappointed and angry with what's happened. I feel bad for Benn because he's telling people he's innocent.
Benn will need to rebuild his credibility if he is suspended or not. Both fighters seem willing for the fight to continue. Benn was the plucky hero of the story.
Benn's supporters are confident that his name will be cleared and that fighters who have served drug suspensions face little backlash.
Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez, the multiple-weight world champion, has served a ban, but he is still a popular fighter.
The suspensions didn't affect their careers financially or otherwise.
Since serving a six-month suspension, boxing's biggest star has fronted 10 pay-per-views and earned millions of dollars.
Today, the back-dated two-year drug suspension of 'the Gypsy King' is barely mentioned as he has established himself as the world's best fighter.
Benn is concerned about proving his innocence.
He said that he was shocked and surprised by the situation.
I will consider rescheduling the fight, but my priority is to clear my name because I am a clean athlete.
The fighter has been put out to dry. Bunce thinks Benn's best course of action is honesty.
Bunce said it would take honesty and soul searching to get back the trust of the people.
"I don't care what you say, even people who have been cleared and cleared, it hangs over their heads."
All Rights Reserved © 2024
