Eubank Jr vs Benn - Chris Eubank Jr and his ability to make every fighter he faces hate him

Say what you like about Chris Eubank Jr, and many have throughout his colourful career, but you cannot deny his ability to get under an opponents’ skin. 

As he prepares to face Connor Benn at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night, the son of Chris Eubank will once again use every trick in the book to wind up his bitter rival .

The enmity between the middleweights and their families runs deep and dates back well over three decades. Eubank Sr emerged victorious against Nigel Benn in their first clash in 1990 before a contentious draw in the rematch three years later. 

As their sons prepare to face off in front of 60,000 fight fans on Saturday, Eubank Jr’s status as a boxer with an ability to make his opponents hate him is clear to see. Back in February, at an extraordinary media conference in Manchester, Eubank Jr infamously slapped Benn across the face with an egg. An already volatile Benn, with his father Nigel next to him, lost control and both boxers were held back by security guards. 

As vicious insults were traded, the incident was another reminder of Eubank Jr’s penchant for stoking the flames. There is an arrogance about Eubank Jr, a self-belief and cockiness that all top fighters need to succeed in the ring. It has earned him plenty of detractors, of course, but as Eubank Jr has showed, he can back up his rhetoric with his fists. 

Cast your mind back to September 2023 when Eubank Jr fought Liverpudlian Liam Smith in a grudge rematch at the AO Arena in Manchester. Smith had won their first bout with a fourth-round stoppage and the build-up to that scrap was genuinely nasty. 

For even the most hardened boxing fan, their pre-fight press conferences felt in danger of going too far. Eubank questioned Smith’s fidelity and the Liverpudlian made innuendos about his rival’s sexuality. Still, it added to the drama heading into the fight and showed Eubank Jr’s ability to rile an opponent. 

• Eubank Jr vs Benn is live on DAZN PPV: £19.95; $24.99; €24.99 - buy now here

Ahead of their rematch eight months later, Eubank Jr was at it again. “It was a miracle that you won that last fight and I’m going to rectify that in a few days’ time,” he told Smith in front of the assembled media.  

Two days before that rematch, Eubank Jr made a declaration that proved prophetic. “The performance will be exquisite, supernatural, a beautiful artistic display of savage boxing and you, Liam, will be on the receiving end of it,” he declared with his trademark calmness and smile. Eubank Jr also mischievously told Smith “I’m definitely more intelligent than you, my friend.” 

Smith struggled to conceal his contempt for Eubank Jr, but the real contest took place in the ring, of course. To be inside the AO Arena in Manchester that evening felt like both fighters were entering a lion’s den. Eubank had met a number of Manchester United players while they were on tour in Las Vegas during the summer of 2023 and he prepared for this fight there with new trainer Brian 'BoMac' McIntyre. 

Marcus Rashford was among those to warn him not to lose to a Scouser again on Mancunian turf. Eubank Jr was subjected to jeers as he made his way to the ring and even cocked both ears to the crowd to wind up his detractors, which included a big support from Smith from his home city along the M62. But the night belonged to Eubank Jr. 

He sent Smith crashing to the canvas after one minute and 45 seconds of round 10 in a fight he largely dominated from start to finish with a stunning display of cool, calm and controlled boxing. 
Eubank’s tactics were outstanding and a consummately professional, ruthlessly efficient and clinical display showed him at his very best. 

Smith appeared to struggle with an injury to his left ankle but take nothing away from Eubank. He was a worthy victor, and it was revenge at its sweetest. In the post-fight press conference, in the early hours of Sunday morning, Smith looked badly hurt while Eubank Jr appeared largely unscathed. 

The bad blood between the pair continued, or at least with their entourages as fighting almost broke out, as it had done between rival fans in the stands earlier. Smith even felt compelled to momentarily leave his seat in the press conference to calm things down. For Eubank Jr, though, it was job done. He had won the war – in and out of the ring – and now the 35-year-old will look to write a similar story against Benn. 

The build-up this week has been bitter ahead of their grudge clash which will see them finally clash in the ring that was originally scheduled for October 2022. It was cancelled because Benn failed a drugs test but now, two and a half years on, they will finally meet. 

Around 60,000 fight fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium – and millions watching on television – wait with bated breath. It should be some scrap.

 

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 .