The atmosphere at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night was charged with anticipation before the opening bell. However, once the fight began, the focus shifted from tension to the fierce desire of two men seeking validation and pride from their renowned fathers – a motivation clearly evident throughout the contest.
Despite a build-up marked by both controversy and historical parallels, Chris Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs) and Conor Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) unquestionably delivered a high-quality fight, displaying the courage, resilience, and heart that defined their legendary dads. Eubank Jr. emerged victorious via a decisive unanimous decision, setting significant statistical records in the process.
After effectively neutralising Benn`s aggressive early surge, Eubank Jr. progressively took control of the bout. Leveraging his experience, he dictated the pace and action, notably outlanding his younger opponent in every single round, even during `The Destroyer`s` fast start. CompuBox statistics highlight Eubank Jr.`s incredible output in the championship rounds, throwing an impressive 335 punches over the final three frames.
Eubank Jr.`s total of 367 landed punches is not only a career-high for the 35-year-old fighter but also represents the most punches landed by any individual boxer in a bout this year. This figure surpasses the previous high of 344 punches recorded by William Zepeda in his recent rematch against Tevin Farmer.
Furthermore, the combined total of 582 landed punches between both fighters – with Benn landing 215 – strongly positions Eubank-Benn as a leading candidate for Fight of the Year. This number currently tops the charts for the highest combined punch count in a single contest this year, significantly outpacing the previous leader, the 523 total punches landed in the fight between Khaleel Majid and Alex Murphy on the Joyce-Hrgovic undercard.
Interestingly, the third highest combined punch count this year occurred in Callum Smith`s highly praised victory over Joshua Buatsi back in February, totalling 519 punches. The fact that the top three fights with the most combined punches landed have all been all-British affairs speaks volumes about the current health, competitiveness, and excitement within British boxing.
While requiring both participants, these remarkable punch statistics are largely attributable to Chris Eubank Jr.`s exceptional volume and Conor Benn`s extraordinary chin. Benn, naturally a welterweight, landed fewer punches (215) against Eubank Jr. than he did in his only other completed 12-round professional fight against Peter Dobson (246), underscoring the challenge posed by Eubank Jr.`s relentless pressure and output.
