Conor Benn slaps talkSPORT microphone out of Gareth A Davies’ hand and denies interview at Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin fight

Conor Benn refused to a talkSPORT interview by slapping journalist Gareth A Davies’ microphone out of his hand on Saturday night.

The 26-year-old welterweight contender remains embroiled in controversy following his two positive drugs tests from last year, that saw his proposed fight with Chris Eubank Jr scrapped.

Benn made a rare public appearance following the controversy as he attended Anthony Joshua vs Jermaine Franklin at the O2 Arena in London.

With talkSPORT broadcasting the event, Davies was sent out on a roaming mission to gather interviews around ringside roughly 90 minutes before AJ was due to make his ring walk.

The talkSPORT Fight Night host came across Benn in the VIP section, but was unable to speak to him.

Davies narrated his movements as he wandered around ringside and said: “I’m very near Conor Benn, I just want to say hello to-“

At this point he was interrupted by Benn himself, who slapped his talkSPORT microphone away.

Davies told the listeners: “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 then pointed out where Benn’s anger was directed at. “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…

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

@conorbennofficial

“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 later posted a picture on Instagram of himself in his seat for the even with a microphone emoji accompanied by the word ‘no.’