Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn II - Second dance simmers as rivalry resumes for sworn enemies

It was the television chef Julia Child who once identified the magic of the culinary arts; a notion that the only real stumbling block to success was a fear of failure in the kitchen.

"In cooking, you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude," she said. "This is my invariable advice to people - learn from your mistakes, be fearless, and above all have fun.”

In gastronomy, there are plenty who can conjure up multi-tier feasts from their mind for the world to enjoy - but sometimes, all the world wants is a bit of sausage and chips.

In Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn's first bout, there was the promise of a five-course delight to thrill the senses. In the end, its results proved to be more of a slap-up pub feed.

After a build-up that quite literally drew the line between the artistry of both forms with one well-timed egg slap, it perhaps was always going to find its teeth with more simple fare.

Neither man has ever won a major world title in their careers. Neither man arguably has finessed the recipes and gifts of their famed fathers to replicate their results in the ring.

But in April, it ultimately did not matter. All the origami napkins and candelabras, all the rehydration clauses and missed weights, were irrelevant in the face of raw entertainment.

Five months on from their first meal together, two months before they share the dining table again, the pot is starting to simmer - but whether it will yet boil over remains to be seen.

At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, back at the scene of their last dance, there are questions to be answered, overshadowed by the pained mood of a community torn suddenly apart.

The death of Ricky Hatton three days before sent shockwaves across the sport. Lewis Crocker, freshly minted as the IBF welterweight champion, is among those paying tribute.

But when both fighters and their teams take to the stage, the sizzle is palpable, not only for the low thrum of antagonism that lingers on, but for the contrast between its key men.

Pugnacious and with a point to prove half a year ago, Benn - clad in a Manchester City shirt as a tribute to Hatton - appears the more reflective man, perhaps even self-censored.

His vow to knock Eubank Jr. out in their first bout did not come to pass, instead serving up the first professional defeat of his career - but nevertheless finding a slew of new fans.

The star's measured assessment of his own flaws comes tempered with a newfound respect for his opponent; less admiration for his guile and more appreciation for his craft.

The same cannot be said for Eubank Jr. however. Bar a rarefied reference offering praise for his opponent, the older veteran mostly took the chance to air long-held grievances.

Much as his father before him, he has always been a mercurial character, blessed with pantomime villainy and an ability to play it up as the underdog against a host of opponents.

Here, as he traded barbs with Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, his ego-driven dominance proved a calculated gamble; pushing the envelope while attempting to twist the narrative.

Whether he found success will become more readily apparent over the coming months - but his assessment that he may be the new people's champion is not entirely incredulous.

In the stands, the lone flag from Tottenham's UEFA Champions League return against Villarreal the night before still sits forlornly on the odd seat, fluttered by the evening breeze.

There's a peculiar sense of treading water in some regard here, the knowledge that this whole affair between these two men should in fact be taking place on the turf this weekend.

In an era where heavyweight stars tend to dominate the biggest stadium shows, Eubank Jr. and Benn made history as a pair of middleweights who kicked off the summer with a bang.

Now, they head into the depths of autumn with one of the last big domestic fights of the year, save perhaps for Moses Itauma's likely next encounter in an arena in December.

The weather will be colder. The conditions will be tougher. Benn, who had eyed a title shot against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, has been left fuming by the delay.

For Eubank Jr., it is all part of the mind games, even as he attempts to further unsettle his opponent and Hearn with his storytelling. This rematch is more than just pride for him.

Hopes of a dream bout with Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez remain a possibility if he triumphs against Benn again, proves his dominance even with the natural advantage of his frame.

But in pushing this test deeper into the championship rounds of 2025, Eubank Jr. has not only set up a harder test for his opponent, but one for himself and his aging body too.

Whichever way it goes, the British public are sure to turn out in droves again - and as their rivalry begins to simmer once more, both men will be determined to bring it to the boil.

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