Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: Boxing is 'in the gutter' if fight goes ahead after failed drugs test

But now, after Conor Benn tested positive for a banned substance, the fight could possibly go down as the contest that shamed the sport.

All credit to Robert Smith and the British Boxing Board of Control who immediately stated in the wake of the news on Wednesday that Saturday night’s sell out fight at the O2 was not prohibited by the sports UK governing body.

In a normal world that would and should have been enough, fight cancelled and, more importantly, the integrity of the sport intact.

But is it a case of putting a pound note in front of the right and proper thing to do? With both fighters sharing a reported £7million purse, fight promoter Eddie Hearn appears to be going to extreme lengths to get the fighters in the ring on Saturday despite the BBB of C’s correct stance.

As I write this opinion piece, Saturday’s promotion has no officials, judges or referees due to the Board’s decision. Media reports suggest Hearn is looking to have the fight sanctioned by another boxing board – Poland, Malta or Luxembourg having already been mentioned, who in turn would fly their own officials over on Saturday.

I know times are changing, and as a boxing fan across the country I’m in the minority. It is the only sport where you can effectively kill someone legally.

Therefore how can any promoter put two fighters into a contest knowing that one of those fighters has tested positive.

The Hearn, Benn and Eubank families are very aware of the dangers of boxing – note Michael Watson and Gerald McLennan!

But if I suspect the common denominator in all this is money rather than safety or the whole integrity of a sport, then at this moment boxing truly is in the gutter. A sad day for the Noble Art.