In a fresh chapter of a historic British boxing rivalry, Chris Eubank Jr. has secured a unanimous victory against Conor Benn in a middleweight matchup at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Eubank (35-3) dealt Benn (23-1) his first loss as a professional fighter in a clash for bragging rights, occurring over three decades after their fathers faced off in two iconic fights.
All three judges scored the non-title match 116-112, following an exciting 12-round contest before an audience of 67,484 fans.
“I didn’t realize he had that level of skill. I underestimated him,” remarked the 35-year-old Eubank.
In November 1990, Eubank senior won against Nigel Benn via a ninth-round stoppage in Birmingham to claim the WBO middleweight title. Their rematch occurred three years later in front of 45,000 spectators at Old Trafford, ending in a split decision draw.
Both fathers were present on Saturday, with a notable surprise being Chris Eubank accompanying his son to the ring. Previously, senior had criticized his son’s behavior at a press conference, labeling it “a disgrace,” leading to tensions as Junior had stated they were not in contact.
“I’m glad to have him back with me. It’s all forward from here,” Junior expressed.
His father stated: “That’s my son. I was always going to be here for him.”
The matchup between the sons was initially planned for 2022 but was canceled following Benn’s urine test, which indicated traces of Clomiphene, a banned substance that can enhance testosterone and reduce fat.
Benn defended himself by claiming that his egg consumption raised his testosterone levels.
During their first media encounter, Eubank humorously smashed an egg on Benn’s face, a stunt that cost him £100,000 in fines from the British Boxing Board of Control.
Benn, aged 28 and typically a welterweight, moved up two weight classes for this fight, having been out of the ring for over a year.
“Perhaps being away for 14 months affected my performance,” Benn acknowledged. “I feel I can compete at 160 pounds and would love to have a rematch to correct this loss.”
Nigel Benn commented that his son was “spending too much time on the ropes.”
“You return stronger,” he advised. “We accept defeat gracefully and will regroup to improve.”
