Eddie Hearn is branded ‘manipulative’ in heated on-air TalkSPORT showdown with Simon Jordan

Eddie Hearn and Simon Jordan had a heated on-air clash at talkSPORT, where the Matchroom boxing boss was called “manipulative” over his actions over Conor Benn’s failed drug test.

Benn failed two drug tests for the banned substance clomiphene last year, leading to his October grudge match with Chris Eubank Jr being called off.

Hearn had said at the time that his promotion “considered our options,” despite calls from the boxing community for the fight to be called off immediately.

It drew brutal criticism from the likes of talkSPORT’s Jordan, who berated Hearn for his actions at the time and continued to do so as they clashed in the air on Tuesday.

Speaking on The White & Jordan Show, Hearn said, “I don’t like what Simon said [about his response to the Benn incident].

Simon Jordan (L) and Eddie Hearn (R) had an on-air clash over Conor Benn’s failed drug test

Benn (centre) was booked to fight Chris Eubank Jr (L) before a drug test revealed traces of a fertility drug, clomiphene, in his system

Jordan then fired back and said, “Er [Hearn] was a coward and he should get over himself and be a big boy. He should have done better than a press conference where he said, “I’m not going to say anything.”

“You’re pretty smooth and manipulative and you could have pulled that fight [between Benn and Eubank Jr]. Are you saying you couldn’t have dropped him as a fighter if he had brought the contract into disrepute?’

Hearn then replied, “Here you don’t understand. Under the contract, the board [British Boxing Board of Control] rule the sport.

“In that case, the fight can’t go on contractually unless the board agrees – no matter what happens in private testing.

“I had the choice and so did Kalle [Sauerland] to continue the fight. I regret [saying we were] to think about our options because I think the board made the right decision. I was a bit shocked.’

Benn, 26, is now targeting a comeback fight in June and his promoter Hearn claimed he had full confidence in Benn’s innocence ahead of a possible summer fight.

Hearn: “I think I made mistakes. During this process, everything we did was done with care and thought. No one has handled the situation particularly well, but I’ll say when those tests are through we’ve had discussions with our governing body.

“The conversations went something like, ‘Robert, I know you don’t acknowledge VADA, we’ve been here before, but basically what are you going to do?’ And five weeks later, they pulled the fight.

Hearn claimed he “regrets” his comments about the October incident

Sportsmail’s Riath Al-Samarrai broke the exclusivity of Benn’s positive drug test in October

“Now what people are saying about my failure to support Conor Benn, I’m going to say this: I believe Conor Benn. It would have been easy for me to brush him aside, but I believe him 100%. He will fight in June.’

Jordan responded, “You are morally wrong to do that and only do it because it benefits you.”

Benn’s camp initially claimed the 26-year-old was taking significant amounts of protein powder supplements to fill up ahead of the catchweight fight with Eubank Jnr, which led to his failed drug test.

Benn has since blamed lab errors for the failed drug tests and has denied citing egg consumption as a possible reason.

Jordan and Hearn continued their heated clash when the talkSPORT pundit suggested Hearn be banned from the BBBofC for his actions over the past year.

“You need to overcome your victim’s complex and should be sanctioned by the BBBofC,” Jordan said. “You tried to start this fight knowing Benn had failed a drug test.

Hearn reiterated his point, saying: “This fight could have happened. I have decided against it. I sat down and thought about it and made the call.’

Benn, 26, will return to the ring this summer after being cleared by the WBC

Hearn ended his segment on the show by referencing Benn’s ongoing investigation by the BBBoC, which currently restricts him from fighting outside of the country.

“Right now he is in a legal position on the board [BBBofC] and it’s very important to me that Benn fights again in this country,” Hearn said.

“I want Benn to go through the whole process with the board but he has a legal situation with the board and he has nothing to prove yet. They also tried to fine him £100.00.

“I’ve got every fighter under the sun who wants to fight Conor Benn, but I want him to go before the BBBofC.”