Boxing legend Ricky Hatton gave a brutal verdict when discussing Chris Eubank Jr's fight with Conor Benn being postponed.
Benn was preparing to face Eubank Jr at the O2 Arena on Saturday night when it emerged that he had failed a drugs test.
It was later clarified that he had returned an adverse finding for 'trace amounts of a fertility drugs' in a drugs test conducted by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency (VADA).
Promoters Matchroom Boxing and Wasserman Boxing had hoped the event would still go ahead as planned after exploring a number of different options at their disposal.
READ MORE: Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn OFF: Kalle Sauerland's reaction to fight postponement
But the British Boxing Board of Control prohibited the fight from taking place due to it not being in 'the best interests of boxing.'
Boxing News - Ricky Hatton gives verdict on Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn being postponed
Chris Eubank Jr's fight with Conor Benn has been cancelled
Hatton, who turned 44 on Thursday, says he can understand why the board made that decision after being informed of Benn's failed drugs test.
"Conor's said to me 'I don't know how this has happened, I can't wait to get to the bottom of this myself' and I believe him wholeheartedly, I do," he told iD Boxing per The Mirror. "I believe him, he's built like his dad, from the same cloth.
"I believe him when he said he can't wait to get to the bottom of it. But at the end of the day, even though I believe Conor when he says it, rules are rules. Drug tests are put there for a reason and if there's a drug which he's taken that will enhance his performance over his opponent, then it's off.
"People are saying the B-sample hasn't come back yet, but that doesn't matter as a test has been failed. I have no doubt that Conor will want to get to the bottom of it more than anyone."
READ MORE: Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: Frank Warren backs BBBoC's decision to prohibit the fight
However, Hatton also expressed a great deal of sympathy for the fighters who were scheduled to compete on the undercard, including his young charge Chloe Watson.
He added: "I'm devastated for Chloe, she's worked really hard for it.
"For someone with only three fights under her belt to fight on a big stage, it's very upsetting.
"I think we can say the same for everyone on the undercard. They've forked out expenses for training camp, food, petrol, this and that, then at the end they're not getting any money back. It's an absolute tragedy, everyone is a loser."
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