Seven months after an epic battle, Eubank Jr., Benn ready for rematch
2nd generation rivals fight again for family name, British bragging rights
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When Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn etched their names in British boxing lore for eternity as the country’s greatest rivals thanks to a pair of ferocious fights, first Eubank’s ninth-round knockout to retain the WBO middleweight title and then a draw in a WBC/WBO super middleweight title unification clash, three years elapsed between those bouts that took place in 1990 and 1993.
Now the family rivalry is in the hands of their sons, Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn.
“When I first turned pro, I didn’t envision being here, of course. Definitely not sitting next to Chris and fighting Chris,” Benn said. “We were both in different stages of our careers. For us to be sitting here, it’s legacy and it’s generational. I didn’t choose this life. It sort of just fell into place and here I am, the fighter I am. I like to fight; it’s what I do. My dad’s got eight kids and I’m the one who’s chosen to live this life.”
Their long-awaited middleweight nontitle showdown was delayed for 2½ years after their October 2022 bout was canceled during fight week following the disclosure that Benn had tested positive for a banned substance. A suspension and protracted battle with British regulators followed before he was re-licensed.
When they finally met on April 26 before an announced sold-out crowd of 67,484 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, they did their fathers, who were at ringside, proud as they waged one of the all-time great fights in British boxing history. It more than lived up to the immense hype.
Eubank outpointed Benn 116-112 on all three scorecards in a raging fight of the year candidate that culminated an intense promotion drenched in drama and emotion, including the surprise reunion between Eubank Sr. and Junior, who arrived at the stadium together having reunited after years of being estranged, and a wild 12th round that is a leading round of the year candidate.
In between their fathers’ fights, Eubank Sr. boxed 11 times and Benn 10 over those three years. There won’t be nearly as long of a wait for the rematch between the sons as there was for the fathers because their deal called for an immediate sequel regardless of the outcome in April with it having to take place before the end of the year.
So, it is back to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for another scheduled 12-rounder that headlines a Ring magazine card on Saturday (DAZN PPV, 11:45 a.m. ET, $59.99) but with the pure hatred between the two seemingly having given way not to friendship but at least to a grudging respect after the hell the put each other through seven months ago.
“The first fight was a fight of the year contender,” Eubank said. “This fight is going to be a fight of the decade contender.”
Benn (23-1, 14 KOs), 29, still doesn’t like Eubank (35-3, 25 KOs), 36, but has shown that respect during the promotion, even though it was during the lead up to the first fight that Eubank smashed a raw egg in his face during a face-off.