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Road to Tottenham: How has Chris Eubank Jr arrived at Conor Benn super-bout?
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will finally settle their differences in the ring this week, more than two-and-a-half years after they were first set to battle between the ropes.
The pair meet in a major middleweight encounter at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, headlining The Ring's Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves on Saturday, April 26.
The grudge match of the decade so far sees two fighters keen to carve out their own lineage beyond the shadow of their fathers - and a piece of each other in the process too.
This long-simmering rivalry, born initially from that of Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, has twisted into something altogether more personal though since October 2022.
Then, the pair's original fight, scheduled for The O2 Arena, was pulled at short notice after Benn returned an adverse drugs test finding, further stirring the pot between them.
Ahead of fight night in north London, DAZN News takes a look at the Road to Tottenham for both men - and just how the intervening years have brought their destinies here.
"He has escaped his schooling... for now"
In October 2022, Chris Eubank Jr was at something of a crossroads. Since his one and only full world title shot ended in defeat four years prior, the star had steadily rebuilt.
A string of victories, most recently over Liam Williams in February of that year, had helped put the ghosts of a 2018 loss to George Groves in the rear view mirror for the moment.
But the prospect of facing Benn, a man naturally two divisions below him, had proven too much of a carrot to resist, offering a line in legacy to build upon a famous name.
A 157-pound catchweight for the contest meant weeks of preparations to slim down - and then, suddenly, Eubank found that it was all for nought as the rug was pulled out.
It was a bitter blow. Coming off an arguably career-best performance, 'Next Gen' had arguably spurned another potential shot at a global crown to take this encounter instead.
On social media, as Benn vowed to clear his name, the anger spilled over, with Eubank vowing to ensure that he would ultimately land the smackdown on his foe.
"Conor got caught," he wrote amid the furore. "The fight is off. [I] can’t believe it. This should not [have] happened. He has escaped his schooling... for now."
Smith shoot-outs spells disaster
As Benn began the prolonged process of a multi-year battle to clear his name, Eubank moved onto other fish - and a chance to further bolster his world title chance credentials.
Liam Smith was a former light-middleweight world champion, one of Liverpool's most storied and famous fighters. He remained highly ranked in his division of choice, one below.
Nevertheless, Eubank entered the contest as favourite. He was second with both the WBC and WBO, fifth with the WBA. Victory could finally pave the way to face Jermall Charlo.
Instead, he was defeated inside four rounds in a shock to the system and the division. Smith had claimed another major scalp, and Eubank's dreams appeared to be in tatters.
Many fighters might consider it the end of the road. In his own idiosyncratic way, the star had suggested a loss to Benn in their original bout would herald his retirement.
Instead, as his rival cleared the first hurdle of the journey to get back in the ring himself amid his troubles, Eubank doubled down and vowed to avenge his defeat in a rematch.
Even then, 'Next Gen' was forced to wait, as a string of injury issues forced postponements from a late spring date through the autumn of 2023 for his second clash with Smith.
A phoenix rises from the ashes
There were few bones to be made about Eubank's reputation ahead of his rematch. Defeat - a fourth of his career, and the wrong side of thirty - could end his title ambitions.
Victory, after such a shock in their first bout, would go some way to restoring the shine and lustre on his name - one now cut solo after a separation from his famed father too.
Almost eight months after he left Manchester Arena, Eubank returned knowing that he would have to get the business done - or risk losing it all in his pursuit of further glory.
In the event, he got the job done, and then some. 'Next Gen' dropped Smith twice on his way to a tenth-round victory, reasserting his position as a key threat at middleweight.
Afterwards, in the ring, with his former rival reportedly somewhere in the crowd, Eubank called out Benn to make good on his promise, while explaining why he had to face Smith.
"It had to be [revenge]," he told those present I had no other choice. "There's too many other big fights out there for me that the fans want to see, that I want to be involved in."
With that mission accomplished, Eubank was back on top - and one step closer to realising a destiny with a rival still fighting to clear his name for a blockbuster return to the ring.
TO BE CONTINUED...
Watch three incredible fight nights in one week only on DAZN
Fight fans are in for a treat at the end of April / start of May, with three amazing fight cards within seven days - and DAZN PPV is the only place to watch them all.
- April 26: Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn
- May 2: Ryan Garcia vs Rolly Romero; Devin Haney vs Jose Ramirez; Teofimo Lopez vs Arnold Barboza Jr.
- May 3: Canelo Alvarez vs William Scull
Arch rivals Eubank Jr and Benn finally go head-to-head to start the exhilarating week, with PPV prices at £19.95 in the UK; $24.99 in the US; €24.99 in Europe.
Garcia vs. Romero and Canelo vs. Scull fight nights follow, which will both be exclusively on DAZN. Fight fans can purchase either fight individually for $59.99 US; £/€21.99 UK/IRE; ROW - $24.99 per PPV or take advantage of the DAZN Knockout Weekend Bundle where both fights can be purchased for $90 US; £34.99 in the UK and €34.99 in Europe.
