Another weekend in Las Vegas. 

Another shot at redemption for Conor Benn.

The unbeaten second-generation welterweight was navigating unscathed down the prospect-turned-contender path midway through 2022 – beating the requisite and familiar gatekeepers along the way – when he ran into what’s been a career-defining obstacle.

As nearly every fan, hardcore or casual, has heard by now, the son of the former two-division champ saw a high-profile showdown with British rival Chris Eubank Jr. scuttled when he twice turned up positive for the banned substance clomifene.

The substance is typically prescribed to treat infertility in women, but, according to the National Institutes of Health, it can indirectly increase testosterone levels in men and can mitigate some side effects of synthetic steroid abuse.

The missteps both took the Eubank fight off the docket and cost Benn his license with the British Boxing Board of Control, which he voluntarily relinquished after the failed tests. 

He was suspended for several months by the UK Anti-Doping Agency before the ban was lifted and enabled him to return to the ring last fall in Florida, where he unanimously outpointed Mexican export Rodolfo Orozco over 10 rounds – winning nine, nine and six of 10 on the three scorecards – after a 525-day gap between fights.

The agency contested Benn’s reinstatement and prompted the business trip to the U.S., where it was activity, albeit not particularly impressive activity for the now-27-year-old, who’d spent the 17 months before the ban handling a series of foes that included a once-beaten Sebastian Formella (UD 10), a skidding Samuel Vargas (TKO 1), respected veteran Adrian Granados (UD 10), and ex-title claimants Chris Algieri (KO 4) and Chris van Heerden (TKO 2).

The run helped get him to the No. 5 standing among contenders to WBC champ Terence Crawford that he has heading into return bout No. 2, against unbeaten New York native Peter Dobson, that’ll headline a DAZN-streamed show that begins Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.

For the record, Dobson is a pristine 16-0 with nine KOs but hasn’t fought in 19 months and has never beaten an opponent approaching Benn’s level. In fact, his 16 victims have a combined record of 144-96-13, with 10 of them coming in off a loss and five off multiple losses.

Nevertheless, he and Benn will be main eventers in the Chelsea Ballroom at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, which was the site of a dubious coronation for Rolly Romero last spring, and, more recently, Gilberto Ramirez’s cruiserweight debut against Joe Smith Jr. in October.

It’s Benn’s third fight in the U.S. – after visits to New York and Florida – and his first in the Nevada desert, where his dad, Nigel, was unbeaten in two appearances, including a first-round KO of Iran Barkley in 1990, between Barkley’s two defeats of Thomas Hearns.

“Headlining in Vegas is a dream come true, not just for me, but for any fighter who grew up watching the sport of boxing,” he said. “Vegas has been the stage for many legends before me, and I can't wait to step into that arena.

“I never thought I would fight in Las Vegas, let alone headline, so it’s nothing but a blessing. I’ve got a lot of supporters in America, and I know that people will be traveling over to see me. I sit back and count my blessings, England is my home, and I can’t wait for the homecoming, but at the same time I am embracing every step of this journey. 

“It’s all part of the story and I am excited about what is to come.”

Benn’s promoter and chief hype man, Eddie Hearn, echoed his man’s menacing intentions.

“This is a big night for Conor where he can send a message to the world champions and elite names that he’s ready to take them on in 2024,” Hearn said. “Conor has the itchiest of knuckles to get in there and he’s on a seek and destroy mission in Las Vegas.”

Benn completed his pre-fight training at the recently rebranded Churchill x Matchroom Boxing Club in Santa Monica, California, where he was joined by countryman John Ryder prior to the former super middleweight title challenger’s recent blowout loss to Jaime Munguia.

Also in camp were UK-based youngsters George Liddard and Jimmy Sains, who’ll appear in separate fights on Saturday’s undercard – Liddard, 21, in a six-rounder against Andrew Buchanan and Sains, 23, in a four-rounder with Alejandro Avalos.

Call it another British invasion, with eight-ounce gloves.

“It’s exciting to have four Essex boys going to Vegas with George, Jimmy and Johnny Fisher and his Bosh Army,” Benn said. “I don’t think that’s been done before and it shows the opportunities that have presented themselves throughout this process. First Orlando and now fighting in Sin City, it’s great to fight in the States and get my name out there over there.”

Assuming Benn clears the hurdle – and he’s a minus-1000 favorite to do so, according to DraftKings – he’s got far bigger challenges on his agenda. In fact, though he’s behind Canada’s Cody Crowley, France’s Souleymane Cissokho, England’s Josh Taylor and Armenian David Avanesyan in the WBC queue, Benn wants to jump the line.

“We could make the Crawford fight next,” he told ESNEWS. “You want to challenge yourself against the best.”

* * * * * * * * * *

This week’s title-fight schedule:

No title fights scheduled

Last week's picks: 2-1 (WIN: Teraji, Collazo; LOSS: Dalakian)

2023 picks record: 49-19 (72.05 percent)

Overall picks record: 1,300-427 (75.27 percent)

NOTE: Fights previewed are only those involving a sanctioning body's full-fledged title-holder – no interim, diamond, silver, etc. Fights for WBA "world championships" are only included if no "super champion" exists in the weight class.

Lyle Fitzsimmons has covered professional boxing since 1995 and written a weekly column for Boxing Scene since 2008. Reach him at fitzbitz@msn.com or follow him on Twitter – @fitzbitz.