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Eubank Jr vs Benn: How will Benn cope with first fight in over a year?
The 28-year-old boasts a perfect 23-0 professional record but has fought just twice in two-and-a-half years since his original scheduled bout with Eubank Jr was cancelled in October 2022 .
When that fight was dramatically shelved two days beforehand after Benn failed two voluntary drugs tests, a storm raged.
In the rivalry between the Eubank and Benn families and in the wider boxing world.
Benn spent the next two years battling to have his doping ban lifted, while Eubank Jr has consistently branded his rival a “cheat”, marking one of the bitterest build-ups in recent memory.
This weekend, though, live on DAZN , at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the sons of Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn will finally meet head on in the ring.
It promises to be pure sporting theatre.
Benn has billed the grudge clash in north London as a “homecoming” as he fights in England for the first time in over three years.
A fear of a career-first defeat, especially to his hated rival, is fuelling his bid for glory.
“I fear losing all the time,” admitted Benn, who is aiming to send Eubank Jr into retirement and then compete for the WBC world title.
“That’s what gets me out of bed at five in the morning. I fear losing.
“It’s the way I work. Some people love to win but that’s why I train hard – the fear of losing – especially to this man.
“Of course you have your doubts, your fears, your worries.
“Ultimately, I’ve had that my whole career. It's a natural part of the process.”
Benn will look to build on his impressive record of 23 straight wins (14 KOs) and register a third straight victory since the cancellation of his original scheduled bout with Eubank Jr in autumn 2022.
He secured a 10-round points victory over gruff Mexican Rodolfo Orozco in Florida in September 2023.
Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Then came another win against Peter Dobson in February 2024 in Las Vegas when he won by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
Benn has hardly set any pulses racing in those victories but had looked formidable in his two bouts before the drugs controversy.
He knocked out seasoned fighters Chris Algieri and Chris van Heerden in Liverpool and Manchester, in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
Now Benn is primed to face Eubank Jr (34-3, 25 KOs) on Saturday night when the endless verbal exchanges and insults between the pair will at last be decided with their fists.
The build-up has included several heated confrontations, not least when Eubank Jr slapped Benn in the face with an egg at a media conference in February.
Both fighters have agreed to a weight limit for the weigh-in, 24 hours before the fight, meaning Eubank Jr has to lose a significant amount of weight by then, whilst Benn has to bulk up beyond his natural size.
With 60,000-plus fans at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a global television audience, there will be no hiding place for Benn on Saturday night.
Not that there is any suggestion he is looking, of course.
Nigel Benn, who fought two epic battles against Eubank Sr in the early 1990s, has predicted his son will win inside four rounds.
“Am I extremely confident? I’m very confident,” said Connor, who is seven years younger than his opponent.
“I’m confident as ever because I put the work in.”
Some in the boxing community would be very confident the former IBO ruler could finally have another strap around his waist, and these fighters owning such privileged spots in the sport should irk Eubank Jr frequently.
Eubank Jr has made it clear that Canelo Alvarez is a major target and his promoter, Ben Shalom, has also been vocal about landing a showdown with the Mexican icon for his man.
That contest can only become a reality if Eubank Jr is dominant against Benn, and if not, then the previous scrutiny on Eubank Jr’s career, the nearly man, the man who always falls short, will contain much more weight.
A lofty purse, a congested stadium, and a huge PPV audience will convince Eubank Jr he is still a major draw and huge name this weekend, and if that is what motivates him in his fourteenth year as a professional then so be it. That happens.
But what happens in the fight can go a long way to how he will be remembered?
Losing to an unproven welterweight, whose best wins have come against faded veterans will be all the ammunition that Eubank Jr cynics require to be even more scathing in their career eulogies.
Some of those assessments will be deserved, but if Eubank Jr produces the magic, he is capable of, further window of opportunities will exist for him to finally rid himself of the underachiever tag that currently grips him.
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 .
