Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, sons of legendary boxing rivals, finally met in the ring to resolve their intense rivalry. The highly anticipated bout took place at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England, on Saturday night.
Their initial meeting planned for 2022 was postponed after Benn failed a drug test days before the scheduled date. Three years on, the fight finally happened, delivering a memorable contest. Eubank Jr ultimately secured a unanimous decision victory over Benn in a fight widely considered a `Fight of the Year` candidate.
Chris Eubank Jr beats Conor Benn
From the opening bell, Benn pressed forward aggressively, aiming for an early knockout, but often found himself hitting air. Benn landed some clean shots in the early rounds, appearing to build a lead on the scorecards.
Eubank Jr found his rhythm, landing a sharp uppercut in the fourth round, leading to heated exchanges and trash talk between the fighters before the referee intervened.
The middle rounds were tightly contested, with Eubank Jr seemingly taking control in the fifth and sixth. Eubank Jr looked strong in the seventh round, but Benn rallied in the eighth, turning the contest into a back-and-forth battle.
The ninth round saw intense action, with a cut opening above Eubank Jr`s right eye. He responded strongly, landing a significant punch that momentarily staggered Benn.
Eubank Jr appeared fatigued in the tenth round, which was arguably Benn`s strongest, as he pushed hard and looked for a potential stoppage.
In the eleventh, Eubank Jr showed resilience, pushing Benn onto the ropes and landing significant shots to swing momentum back in his favor. The final round was a chaotic slugfest, with both fighters trading heavy blows until the final bell, leaving the outcome uncertain.
The judges` scores were ultimately decisive, with all three awarding the compelling fight to Chris Eubank Jr by scores of 116-112.
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn react post-fight
Following the fight, Eubank Jr admitted he was surprised by Benn`s performance. “I knew I was capable of performing at that level,” he stated, “but I didn`t expect Conor to push me like that. I didn`t know he had that in him, and I underestimated him. I wasn`t prepared for such a tough fight.”
Conor Benn reflected on his first professional loss, suggesting his 14-month layoff might have been a factor. “Maybe being out of the ring for 14 months didn`t help,” Benn commented. While he wasn`t claiming victory, he acknowledged needing to rewatch the fight. He also expressed a strong desire for a rematch.
