Benn slaps microphone out of reporter’s hand in clash at AJ fight

Conor Benn slapped the microphone out of boxing reporter Gareth A Davies’ hand during a feisty exchange at the Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin event at London’s O2 Arena. 

Investigations into the two failed drug tests ahead of his highly anticipated grudge match with Chris Eubank Jr are still ongoing and Benn has been particularly cagey with the media ever since. While taking to his seat to watch Joshua’s comeback fight on Saturday evening, he was approached by Davies, who was on broadcast duties for talkSPORT.

Narrating his movements as he approached The Destroyer, Davies said: “I’m very near Conor Benn, I just want to say hello to-“ Davies was interrupted by Benn who took a swipe at his microphone before hurling a few verbal jabs.

Davies reacted: “Well he’s knocked the microphone off, he doesn’t wanna talk tonight I’m afraid. He’s got his security guy and he’s just knocked the microphone out of my hand. He clearly doesn’t wanna do anything. That’s the arrogance of youth, unfortunately.”

Davies added: “I don’t take it as a slight on me at all, it’s the talkSPORT microphone. He doesn’t wanna talk to talkSPORT, that’s what he’s clearly saying. He wasn’t aggressive towards me at all…

“We know that privately he’s been a bit disappointed by a lot of the criticism he’s had on talkSPORT and I think that’s all that’s happened tonight. He knocked the microphone with his left hand. It wasn’t aggressive, I wasn’t ducking a left hook or anything, he just slapped the microphone bulb with talkSPORT on it.”

Benn was recently reinstated into the WBC welterweight rankings after the major sanctioning body declared that there is “no conclusive evidence” that the 26-year-old intentionally or knowingly ingested the banned substance, Clomifene, before his fight with Eubank Jr in October.

However, a more pressing independent investigation carried out by the British Boxing Board of Control and UKAD is yet to be concluded. Benn recently gave up his BBBofC license and intends to box abroad in June. The Eubank Jr fight is being teased as the most likely option.