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Conor Benn casts doubt over Chris Eubank Jr rematch as he accuses rival of being 'scared'
Conor Benn has stated that rival Chris Eubank Jr is running ‘scared’, claiming that his opponent has yet to agree to a rematch later this year.
Eubank Jr and Benn’s fight in April reignited a rivalry started by their fathers Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn in the 1990s, although the familial feud has turned deeply personal between the pair.
Eubank Jr took a unanimous decision victory over Benn in what proved to be a passionate brawl that sparked immediate talk of a rematch. The original contract for the first fight was part of a two-bout deal, with Turki Alalshikh announcing that the rematch would take place on Saturday, September 20 – much to the surprise of both parties.
However, despite Alalshikh’s announcement, Benn’s camp claim that team Eubank are yet to confirm whether they will be taking the fight, leading to Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn imposing a 24-hour deadline.
Calling in to The Ariel Helwani Show, Hearn claimed: “We're waiting. These people are so painful. They signed a contract, a two-fight deal. We told them September 20, 27. They said, 'That's fine.'
"Obviously it was announced on the night [of the first fight in April that] the rematch would be on [September] 27, and they're just slow and painful. We don't want to be messed around. Conor Benn is one of the biggest stars in boxing right now. Everybody wants to fight him. We need an answer, and hopefully that will come, I think, in the next 24 hours, so we stand by."
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Hearn’s ad hoc phone call came as his fighter Benn was being interviewed by Ariel Helwani, with the natural welterweight not shy from sharing his opinion on the matter.
"I've heard Eubank doesn't want the fight,” Benn began. “He's moaning about the weight stipulation, the 160 [lbs limit].
"You didn't hear him moan about making 160 for Liam Smith when he got beat. He didn't use that as an excuse, he didn't moan about the 160.
"You've got to remember, Eubank's last five fights have been at 160. He's had what, 15, 17 fights at 160? The majority of his career was at 160. But obviously he had pre-planned all of this with the weight cut [being so difficult for him]. It was a good narrative to push, and a lot of people believed it. But the reality is, I've come up two weights to his weight division. If he doesn't want to do the fight and he is bottling it, which is what he is [doing], he's scared."
Benn suggested that he had fights lined up at welterweight, having previously fought at 147lbs before his bout with Eubank Jr. In addition, the 28-year-old spoke about facing WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson, who also made an appearance on The Ariel Helwani Show.
“I'm not a 160 fighter, I'm willing to come up to 160 and put my career on hold to give the fans what they want, which was the Eubank fight. If he doesn't want to do the fight September 20, we've already got plans. You've got the world titles, you've got the Shakur [Stevenson] fight.
"As far as I'm concerned, he doesn't even want to do 160," Benn said. "I don't know what he's pushing for, but whatever it is, I'm not doing [it]. I'm not even a big 147 [welterweight]. So I'll fight the likes of Shakur pillow fists instead.
“Why would I not fight pillow fists instead, who's coming up from 135, over jumping up to super middle[weight]? For what? For [Eubank] to come in at light heavy[weight]? I went into the ring at 160, 162 [for the first Eubank fight]. I weighed in at 157, and that was me putting on weight.
"I'm excited to go back down to 147, where I'm at my most dangerous.”
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