Conor Benn lost his “credibility” after failing two voluntary drug tests last year, rival Chris Eubank Jr has claimed.
A fight between the two Britons in October was canceled because of the results, although Benn recently said his team had “proved” his innocence.
Benn suggested “contamination” can be to blamebut Eubank Jr said a fighter was ultimately responsible for whatever was in their system.
“He can’t be the star everyone was trying to make him,” he said.
“When you fail a drug test, you take that aura away. My advice would be to lean into the bad boy thing.”
Eubank said Benn “cannot be the golden boy anymore” and should apologize regardless of the cause of the failed tests.
“You control what goes into your system,” added Eubank Jr. “If you make the mistake, then you are guilty. I never made the mistake.”
Benn, 26, tested positive for the banned substance clomiphene twice while preparing for his fight with Eubank Jr last October.
Clomiphene can be used to increase testosterone levels in men and is banned in and out of competition by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
The son of former world champion Nigel Benn, Conor has repeatedly denied intentionally taking performance-enhancing drugsbut has not yet made public proof of his innocence.
But Eubank Jr thinks Benn should apologize because people “wasted so much money, time and effort” with the cancellation of the first fight.
“You have to hope people start coming back to your side,” he said.
But he warned Benn had “a long way to go”.
“You’re doing it wrong if you play the victim and try to prove your innocence after four months,” he added.
“He’s going to have to be the bad guy. Like me, I was the bad guy.
“Maybe I’m still the bad guy. I’ve been doing it for 10 years – walking into arenas being booed, spat on, thrown drinks, trolled online day after day.
“I had to embrace this role. I was never the hero. I was going to guys’ backyards, I was going to towns where they didn’t want me to win. And really, that seems to be what ‘he’s going to have to do.”
Sanctioning body WBC (World Boxing Council) and the UK Anti-Doping Agency (Ukad) are investigating failed doping tests conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada), but the results of these cases have not yet been published.
“The fight is much bigger”
Despite the ongoing controversy, Eubank believes the fight with Benn will happen in the future.
Benn vs. Eubank was built on the fierce rivalry their fathers, Nigel and Chris, experienced in the 1990s. The fathers fought twice, with the 1993 rematch ending in a contentious draw.
Eubank Jr, a middleweight, was set to cut to 157lbs for the initial bout but insists he won’t agree to the same terms again.
“Conor lost all his privileges,” he said.
“There are no weight clauses. He has lost his credibility. He has lost his power to barter.”
Eubank Jr, who is fighting Liam Smith this Saturday in Manchester, believes a fight between him and Benn could potentially fill a major spot after the controversy.
“If and when the fight happens, whether it’s next year, two years from now or five years from now, it’s a stadium fight,” he added.
“Now we have our own story. Now we have our own reasons for wanting to get in that ring and fight.
“He acted badly on my part in terms of how he went about it. I don’t like Conor Benn anymore. Before, I was neutral.”
“It means the story, the narrative and the combat are so much bigger and so much more real.”
