Conor Benn admits that he is fortunate to have been able to pick up his career almost exactly where he left it after spending more than two years embroiled in legal battles but the 28 year-old also believes that he is benefitting from the interest and excitement he generated before his career was derailed.

Back in October 2022, a scheduled catchweight fight between Benn and Chris Eubank Jr fell apart during fight week when news broke that one of Benn’s pre-fight VADA tests had returned an adverse finding for the banned substance clomifene.

News of a second positive test soon followed and Benn found himself in a convoluted struggle to clear his name.

Last November, the National Anti-Doping Panel cleared him to resume his career in the UK.

Benn had worked his way to the fringes of world class before the saga began but hasn’t made the 147lb limit since he blew Chris Van Heerden away inside two rounds in Manchester in April 2022.

Still, upon receiving the green light he immediately picked up exactly where he had left off and was given a choice between stepping up to middleweight and fighting Eubank Jr in a football stadium or boxing WBC welterweight champion, Mario Barrios.

Benn, 23-0 (14 KOs), chose Eubank Jr, 34-3 (25 KOs), and they will finally meet at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26th, as part of a Ring Magazine event being broadcast globally by DAZN.

Considering his only action since the whole Eubank Jr story started has been a pair of low profile junior middleweight wins in America, does he feel fortunate to have been able to have been able to choose between two such massive options for his return?

“I'm in demand. Do I feel fortunate?

“I'd probably say, listen, the Benn name or your family name only takes you so far, then you've really got to come through yourself,” he told The Ring.

“In this sport - where it's a one-on-one sport - you can't just simply rely on the name because the name ain't going to frighten my opponents away. The name ain't going to knock my opponents out. I've got to do that. A name can only take you so far and it's your job to propel.

“I’m in demand, people want to see me fight. They want to see me win a world title.”

During the build up to the fight with Eubank Jr, Benn has stated that this will be a one-time - or two-time depending upon rematch clauses - step up to middleweight and that he will then drop back down to challenge Barrios.

Benn’s famous surname undoubtedly gave him a leg up at the start of his career but his no nonsense persona and aggressive style of fighting quickly made him a firm favorite with boxing fans.

The news of those adverse findings will have turned some of those fans against him but it will also have hardened the support of others who feel he was mistreated and as large portions of his long, protracted legal battle have been played out in public, his name has never been far from the headlines.

Benn will understand that the controversy has played a major part in him being able to step straight back onto the scene and straight into such a big moment, he also thinks that notoriety isn’t solely responsible for the interest his return has generated. He believes that he has tapped back into the market he established before his troubles began.

“Obviously, Barrios wants to fight me for the WBC world title. I'm probably the biggest name there in the division. I'll get him the most paid and he would say probably less risk because I'm coming off a layoff,” Benn said.

“Is it fortunate? Am I blessed? Yes, but I understand PR. I understand marketing.

“I understand that styles make fights and put bums on seats and, therefore, you'll always be in demand providing you entertain the British public or the public as a whole.”