Boxing legend Nigel Benn has told Piers Morgan HOW he really struggled to cope with what he has described as a ‘witch-hunt’ for his son Conor Benn.
Conor was scheduled to fight Chris Eubank Jr in October last year, but the bout was scrapped after it was revealed that he had failed two drugs tests in the build-up.
Conor has always maintained his innocence but remains under investigation by Ukad and the British Boxing Board of Control and is currently unable to fight in UK as he does not have a licence.
Appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV, Conor explained the situation had taken a serious toll on his mental health and left him on the brink of suicide.
Nigel has supported him throughout the fallout and joined the interview with Piers to disclose just how much of a toll the whole episode has had on the family.
The 59-year-old, a two-weight world champion and boxing superstar in his heyday, maintains his son is innocent as he confessed: “I was in the same position as my son. I was really struggling as well.
“I don’t really drink but I was drinking half a bottle of red wine a night. I’m on medication. And we were both in a dark place.
“To me it looks like this is a witch-hunt. We’re going back to the 1800s. ‘She is a witch, she is a witch, burn her’ and everyone’s ‘yeah burn her.’ Hold on a minute, that is my son.
“If I ever thought my son was guilty of anything I would say, son I love you, but you know you have got to deal with this. I’d hang him out to dry, but I am actually in this training camp with him, I was training with him.”
Nigel continued: “I will be honest with you it was like, I was with Conor for 5 months. I was not here [Australia], I was in England while he was going through this period, I was there with him.
“I would stay and talk and then my mum died so I had so much pressure on me, I was just a mess inside.
“I was trying to be strong but it was like he was trying to deal with his issue and I was trying to deal with mine and we struggled.
“We both got through it together.”
Nigel Benn relinquished his own boxing licence in the 1980s after falling out with the sport’s authorities and believes they have handled the situation with his son badly.
“I feel they’re dealing with Conor, and not the other fighters is the same way they dealt with me… I don’t know if they’re hold anything against me and using it against my son,” he said.
Conor Benn was speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored – catch the interview again on TalkTV’s social channels.
Boxing legend Nigel Benn has told Piers Morgan HOW he really struggled to cope with what he has described as a ‘witch-hunt’ for his son Conor Benn.
Conor was scheduled to fight Chris Eubank Jr in October last year, but the bout was scrapped after it was revealed that he had failed two drugs tests in the build-up.
Conor has always maintained his innocence but remains under investigation by Ukad and the British Boxing Board of Control and is currently unable to fight in UK as he does not have a licence.
Appearing on Piers Morgan Uncensored on TalkTV, Conor explained the situation had taken a serious toll on his mental health and left him on the brink of suicide.
Nigel has supported him throughout the fallout and joined the interview with Piers to disclose just how much of a toll the whole episode has had on the family.
The 59-year-old, a two-weight world champion and boxing superstar in his heyday, maintains his son is innocent as he confessed: “I was in the same position as my son. I was really struggling as well.
“I don’t really drink but I was drinking half a bottle of red wine a night. I’m on medication. And we were both in a dark place.
“To me it looks like this is a witch-hunt. We’re going back to the 1800s. ‘She is a witch, she is a witch, burn her’ and everyone’s ‘yeah burn her.’ Hold on a minute, that is my son.
“If I ever thought my son was guilty of anything I would say, son I love you, but you know you have got to deal with this. I’d hang him out to dry, but I am actually in this training camp with him, I was training with him.”
Nigel continued: “I will be honest with you it was like, I was with Conor for 5 months. I was not here [Australia], I was in England while he was going through this period, I was there with him.
“I would stay and talk and then my mum died so I had so much pressure on me, I was just a mess inside.
“I was trying to be strong but it was like he was trying to deal with his issue and I was trying to deal with mine and we struggled.
“We both got through it together.”
Nigel Benn relinquished his own boxing licence in the 1980s after falling out with the sport’s authorities and believes they have handled the situation with his son badly.
“I feel they’re dealing with Conor, and not the other fighters is the same way they dealt with me… I don’t know if they’re hold anything against me and using it against my son,” he said.
Conor Benn was speaking on Piers Morgan Uncensored – catch the interview again on TalkTV’s social channels.