Two-and-a-half years after they were initially slated to meet and more than three decades on from their fathers redefining the superfight landscape in Britain, Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn meet at a sold-out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
On the face of it, the 35-year-old Eubank should be the heavy favourite heading into a middleweight contest against a career welterweight who has never proved himself to be a world-level operator.
However, those bare facts are only part of an intoxicating and at times vulgar stew in London. Trading heavily on the legacies of Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, whose world title clashes in 1990 and 1993 captivated a nation, Eubank Jr. and Conor were set to meet on October 8 before news broke that Benn had failed a drug test.
It later emerged that the 28-year-old had failed two tests and he has spent much of the interim period fighting to clear his name with the UK authorities. Benn has always denied intentionally taking the banned substance clomiphene and will box with a British Boxing Board of Control license on Saturday night.
WATCH: Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn, live on DAZN
In January 2023, Eubank was stopped for the first time in his career by former light middleweight world champion Liam Smith, a defeat he avenged via a 10th-round TKO that September. Nevertheless, doubts remain over Eubank's robustness at the 160-pound limit in his advancing years.
'Junior' missed weight by half an ounce on Friday before successfully staying within a 10-pound rehydration clause on Saturday morning. If the older fighter is depleted and wilts under Benn's pressure in an 18-square-foot ring that is smaller than the standard championship size, it would leave uncomfortable questions over where his career goes from here.
Those would merely be added to the list of queries provoked by this curiously concocted and increasingly bitter rivalry.
The Fight
Very sharp showing from both men in the opener, but Eubank might have just edged the first round.
Benn looks sharp, landing jabs and right hands. They both took a tumble in round three. It's a very even fight so far.
Eubank Jr is starting to dominate from round five and landing some big shots.
Brighton's Eubank is picking Benn off in the sixth stanza.
35-year-old Eubank is landing a lot of big shots in the seventh round, looking like this fight could be swinging his way, but Benn is still in it.
Benn starts fast in the eighth, clearly recognising he just had a bad round. Eubank lands two big left hooks. Then it all shifts when Benn lands a huge right hook and they finish they round trading on the ropes.
Eubank cut on the right eye then he stumbles in the ninth round and what a round it was!
In round 10, Benn looks fresh but Eubank is sucking in air.
Eubank got back on top in the 11th, but then looked like he staggered in the final seconds from a right hand from Benn.
Eubank landed a left hook that made it appear that Benn was going to go, but they battled it to the final bell in one of the most amazing fights you could ever wish to see. Not many had this fight going the distance.
Eubank Jr won unanimously with all three scorecards at 116-112, perhaps not wholly reflective of the incredibly close fight we all witnessed, but the right result nonetheless.
(Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn full card results
- Chris Eubank Jr. def. Conor Benn (UD 12); Middleweights
- Aaron McKenna def. Liam Smith (UD 12); Middleweights
- Anthony Yarde def. Lyndon Arthur (UD 12); Light Heavyweights
- Viddal Riley def. Cheavon Clarke (c) (UD 12); BBBofC Cruiserweight title
- Chris Billam-Smith def. Brandon Glanton (UD 10); Cruiserweights
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn tune-in info
- Date: Saturday, April 26
- Time: 5 p.m. BST
- Main event start time (approx.): 10 p.m. BST
- Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - Tottenham, England
- Live Stream: DAZN
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn will be available on DAZN worldwide.
In the UK. A DAZN monthly subscription costs £9.99 on a 12-month contract or £19.99 month-to-month. An annual subscription will cost £99.99. The PPV price for the event will be £19.95. A 7-day no-commitment free trial is still part of the PPV buy. The fight is also available to purchase on Sky Sports Box Office for the same price.
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