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Eubank Jr. vs Benn: Grudge fight can be the best sports story of the year
Rory McIlroy’s famous Masters victory stirred the soul of golf fans everywhere, Liverpool are about to clinch their second league title in 35 years, a new FIFA Club World Cup launches and the British & Irish Lions tour Australia this summer.
But as Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn go to war on Saturday night, there is every chance their crunch clash could top the lot for sporting drama in 2025.
Certainly it is one of the most eagerly-anticipated fights in recent boxing history and a dust-up absolutely dripping in storylines.
Take the intense rivalry their fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, enjoyed during the 1990s.
Consider the hate-filled feud that has developed between the younger generation since their original scheduled fight in October 2022 was cancelled because Benn failed two voluntary drugs tests.
Factor in, too, the undeniable talent of both men and it is easy to see why this weekend’s scrap has garnered so much interest.
That intrigue has reverberated far beyond the world of boxing in a year when we have already seen a Brit achieve something special in the sporting arena.
McIlroy’s recent exploits in golf’s Masters in Augusta served as a compelling reminder of sport’s ability to increase the heartbeat and get viewers off their seats.
The Northern Irishman became the sixth man to win all four majors after beating Justin Rose in a sudden-death play-off to finally win his first Masters title and complete the career Grand Slam in a hugely dramatic final round.
Having won the men’s game’s three other majors – US Open, Open Championship and US PGA Championship – by the end of 2014, McIlroy had to wait 11 years before joining Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods as Grand Slam winners.
“I would say it was 14 years in the making,” an emotional McIlroy said, referencing the 2011 Masters when he threw away a four-shot lead in the final round.
“A lot of pent-up emotion came out on the 18th green. A moment like that makes all the years and all the close calls worth it.”
There will be a similar outpouring of emotion at Anfield on Sunday when champions-elect Liverpool bid to seal the Premier League title.
The Reds need just a point against Tottenham Hotspur to become champions of England for a 20th time and equal the record held by sworn enemies Manchester United.
Banners inscribed with the words ‘NOT NINETEEN FOREVER’ have been held aloft by Liverpool at recent games and the scenes at Anfield will be pretty special should Arne Slot’s side clinch the crown.
Unsurprisingly, tickets for the game are like gold dust.
- Read more | From Lobbies to Lifts: Four pre-fight bust-ups between Eubank Jr and Benn before middleweight grudge bout
There has been a similarly high demand to watch the Eubank Jr-Benn fight on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. With good reason.
There is the romance of their fathers – former super-middleweight world champions – having fought twice during a memorable era for the weight division in the UK.
Eubank Sr won the first fight in 1990 and the second ended in a split-decision draw in 1993.
Layers of intrigue
That history has acted as the basis for their sons’ modern-day feud.
Benn Sr – The Dark Destroyer – is rarely far from Conor’s side while Eubank Sr has not been seen in the build-up to the fight due to a previous breakdown in their relationship with his son.
That merely adds another layer of intrigue to proceedings this weekend.
Elsewhere in the UK sporting calendar, Arsenal host Paris St-Germain next Tuesday in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Could Mikel Arteta’s men, having fallen short yet again in the Premier League title race, lift the European Cup for the first time?
The 2025 Women’s European Championships take place from 2-27 July, with Sarina Wiegman’s England seeking to make a third successive major final.
While in the US, FIFA launches its exciting new Club World Cup format, with 32 teams from across the globe compete across June and July to be crowned world champions, which is all live on DAZN for free.
In rugby union, the British & Irish Lions only compete every four years, but they are back in business this summer and head down to face the Wallabies this summer.
Andy Farrell’s men will fancy their chances of clinching a 2-1 series win, in Australia, under Warren Gatland in 2013.
Also in the 15-a-side code, there is a women’s Rugby World Cup on home soil.
In cricket, the five-match men's Ashes series starts in November with Ben Stokes’ side taking on holders Australia in the first Test in Perth.
On Saturday night, though, the eyes of the sporting world be firmly fixed on Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as Eubank Jr and Benn bid to write their own glorious stories in the ring.
The scene is set and the stage is theirs. Finally.
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 .
