Conor Benn is coming for his critics.
The embattled welterweight recently took to social media to personally address some of his harshest detractors after news broke on Wednesday that the World Boxing Council had determined that it could not conclude that Benn had knowingly ingested a banned substance. The verdict means that Benn will return to the WBC’s welterweight rankings.
Benn, 26, had been under investigation by the sanctioning body after he failed two separate tests for the banned performance-enhancing drug clomifene, a fertility drug that boosts testosterone levels when used by men. The revelation of the second test led to the cancellation of his October catchweight fight with Chris Eubank Jr.
The WBC said that it found Benn’s argument that he inadvertently ingested clomifene through the “highly elevated consumption of eggs” was ultimately “plausible.”
Benn, who has continually maintained his innocence, is still under separate investigation by the British Boxing Board of Control and United Kingdom Anti-Doping. The BBBofC-UKAD investigation is considered to be far more consequential and legitimate than the WBC’s. The Board can levy a ban, whereas the WBC has a decidedly much smaller purview and can only decide whether or not Benn gets to be rated again under its jurisdiction. Until a verdict is rendered from the Board, Benn cannot legitimately box in the UK.
Nevertheless, on social media, Benn treated the WBC’s determination as a victory and made it clear that he intends to force-feed crow to anyone who disparaged his integrity for the past few months.
The welterweight took particular issue with his former adversaries Chris Algieri and Chris Van Heerden. Both Algieri and Van Heerden criticized Benn in the wake of his positive drug tests. Benn (21-0, 14 KOs) stopped Algieri in the fourth round in 2021 and Van Heerden in two last April.
“I see @chris_algieri and @chrisvanheerden001 former opponents of mine didn’t make it past 6 rounds between them both piping up talking sh!t,” Benn wrote on his Instagram story. “I’ll rematch you both while tested every week and I promise you both don’t make it past 2 rounds.”
Moments later, Benn posted a follow-up message, upping the ante.
“Forgot to mention, fight you both on the same night @chris_algieri & @chrisvanheerden001,” Benn added.