Chris Eubank Jr. finally stepped into the ring to face his rival, Conor Benn, leaving no doubt about who was the superior fighter on that particular evening.
These prominent British boxing figures competed at a sold-out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on a Saturday. They delivered an intense, back-and-forth contest that went the full 12 rounds and was ultimately decided by the judges` scorecards. Eubank Jr. was awarded the victory by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring the bout 116-112 in his favor.
The physically larger Eubank established control early, using his jab effectively to keep the quicker Benn at range. Despite this, Benn occasionally found openings to land sharp power punches. Eubank appeared to be ahead on the scorecards through the first six rounds, setting the stage for an exciting finish.
Both boxers pushed their stamina to the limit, trading blows furiously in the second half of the fight. Eubank eventually gained the upper hand, cornering Benn against the ropes and unleashing numerous close-range combinations. A cut above Eubank`s right eye did little to hinder his aggression. By rounds 11 and 12, he had clearly pulled ahead, overwhelming a visibly tiring Benn.
By the conclusion of the fight, both competitors were visibly exhausted, having given everything in the ring.
Post-fight, Eubank Jr. stated, “I knew I was capable of that kind of performance. I just needed someone to bring that out of me. And truthfully, I didn’t anticipate that he would be the one to do it, but the legacy of our fathers’ actions all those years ago awakens a unique intensity and spirit, which is what we both showcased tonight.”
The build-up to Saturday’s fight was steeped in drama, stemming from both the historical family rivalry and recent animosity. Eubank`s father, Chris Eubank Sr., and Benn’s father, Nigel Benn, shared a famous rivalry of their own. Eubank Sr. defeated Nigel in a brutal championship bout in 1990, and their 1993 rematch ended in a split draw.
Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn were initially scheduled to fight in October 2024, but the event was postponed after Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomiphene. A new date was announced the following January, and tensions between the English boxers remained high. During one pre-fight encounter, Eubank threw an egg at Benn (a sarcastic reference to Benn’s claim that his failed test was due to eating too many eggs), which resulted in a $129,000 fine for Eubank.
On the Friday before the fight, Eubank failed to make the agreed contractual weight, incurring a $500,000 penalty. He successfully re-weighed the next morning, ensuring the bout could proceed as planned.
Eubank commented on the challenges, saying, “I pushed through it. There’s a lot going on in my life that I’m not going to elaborate on right now. I’m happy to have [my father] back with me, and we upheld the family name just as we said we would. We move onward and upward from here.”
