The time has finally come to settle one of the biggest beefs in boxing, Chris Eubank Jr takes on Conor Benn.
The two have had a storied history which has only turned up the heat on an already red hot fiery matchup. The family have a just as fiery history with Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn fighting two times back in both of their professional careers. Benn and Eubank Sr put on one of the biggest rivalries in British boxing history and the sons are looking to walk in the same shoes this weekend.
Chris Eubank Jr’s Last Hurrah?
Chris Eubank Jr is coming to the end of his storied career which has seen him become a multiple time world champion and see him in massive fights including bouts against George Groves and James Degale. Recently fans have questioned his ability to stay at the top level after a KO loss to Liam Smith derailed the latter part of his career, he since has avenged the loss and returned to action by beating Kamil Szeremeta via TKO in late 2024.
Eubank Jr has the experience, especially at a higher level, over Conor Benn but he will have to do without his fathers blessing who has cursed this fight out since the initial fight was cancelled, Eubank Sr has been incredibly vocal about his thoughts on his son fighting Conor Benn claiming “he’s a Disgrace” after the egg incident and said that he didn’t raise Eubank Jr that way.
Despite not having his father in his corner Eubank will be looking to solidify the Eubank name by beating Benn and having all the bragging rights.
Conor Benn Looks For Revenge-
Conor Benn on the other hand will have the support of his father, Nigel Benn, who has been in his corner every step of his career. Nigel even defended Conor after he was attacked with an egg in their first press conference, by grabbing Eubank Jr by the throat before security split the pair up. Conor Benn’s professional career may not be as long as Eubank Jr’s but it’s just as polarising. After struggling in the early stages of his career at domestic level Benn has since put on a string of devastating performances knocking out the likes of Samuel Vargas and Chris Algieri on the way to setting up a massive fight with Eubank Jr but this is where the polarising factor comes in.
Benn Eubank Jr was originally cancelled the week of the fight back in October 2022 because of an adverse testing sample from Benn’s camp. The sample contained trace amounts of a fertility drug called clomifene, which is found in small traces in eggs. Benn has since been in a battle with the BBBofC pleading his innocence and has not faced an official ban but has been suspended from UK fighting since. Conor Benn and promoter Eddie Hearn have been firm in the stance that Benn didn’t ingest the drug on purpose and have pleaded his innocence to the public.
Benn Overseas-
But since Benn couldn’t fight in the UK he has taken his talent overseas to America fighting Peter Dobson and Rodolfo Orozco which he won both comfortably on decision. Many think Benn has lost his KO power since the cancellation or moving up the weights which he will have to do against Eubank Jr. The fight will take place at Middleweight but Eubank Jr will have a rehydration clause at 10 pounds meaning he wont be over 170 pounds when he enters the ring Saturday.
Fiery Affairs-
Both have been advised to stay away from each other by the BBBofC after the first face off ended in a mass brawl and a hefty fine for Eubank Jr. The board have threatened to cancel the fight if another brawl breaks out. One thing is for sure that fireworks will go off when the two finally meeting alone in the ring Saturday night in a long awaited hateful matchup.
The question is will Chris Eubank Jr roll back the years and do exactly what his father managed back in the 90s or will Conor Benn take revenge for the Benn name and write himself in the history books?
Featured Image Credit via Embed from Getty Images
