Eddie Hearn has provided a disappointing update for fans awaiting the rematch of Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, revealing it is "dead" at the current time.
The announcement comes after the fighters had initially agreed to a second contest following their April meeting at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Eubank secured victory through a unanimous points decision.
Hearn revealed that discussions about potentially rescheduling the fight for November have emerged, though his fighter shows little interest in further delays.
The collapse of the September date marks a significant setback for what was expected to be one of British boxing's major autumn events.
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|Eddie Hearn has revealed there are discussions about moving the fight to November
"At the moment the fight between Eubank and Benn is dead," he revealed.
Benn has voiced his disappointment over the breakdown of negotiations, revealing that comprehensive arrangements had already been finalised.
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The 28-year-old voiced his frustrations: "We signed a two-fight deal, we were ready to go. The date was announced straight after the first fight for September, done a lot of negotiations in terms of venues, dates."
According to Benn, all parties had reached agreement on the 20 September date before complications arose. "They had all agreed September 20th, then Eubank came out and said he wasn't ready," he explained.
The welterweight contender expressed frustration at being left in limbo after extensive preparations had been completed for the autumn showdown.
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|Conor Benn now has his sights set on a world title opportunity
Rather than pursuing further negotiations, Benn has indicated his preference to return to the welterweight division and target championship opportunities.
"We're ready to move on, drop down to 147 and get a world title," Benn stated.
Hearn echoed his fighter's sentiments, suggesting that a world championship bout would be the preferred option.
"Benn isn't interested in being messed around or waiting around. He would love and arguably prefer a shot at the world title," the promoter explained.
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The promoter issued a direct message to Eubank's camp when speaking to BBC Sport: "We just appeal to Eubank, if you're not ready to go back to war with Benn and you'd rather sit at a poker table in Las Vegas, good luck to you. But let us move on."
Despite the current impasse, Turki Alalshikh has indicated the contest might still take place at a later date.
The Ring Magazine owner, whose organisation promoted the initial April encounter, suggested during Saturday's broadcast at Wembley Stadium that January or February could serve as alternative dates for the rematch.
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|Chris Eubank Jr has remained quiet regarding the rematch
The bout was expected to be staged under the Riyadh Season banner, following the pattern of their first meeting. However, no formal announcement has been made regarding whether these proposed dates will materialise.
Eubank himself has remained silent on the matter, leaving uncertainty about his intentions. The 35-year-old recently faced disciplinary action from the British Boxing Board of Control, receiving a £10,000 fine for social media misconduct during the build-up to their April clash.