In London, three years after their initial fight was abruptly cancelled, and 32 years following their fathers` famous rematch, Chris Eubank Jr. secured a unanimous decision victory over Conor Benn in a middleweight contest held on Saturday.
Eubank`s record now stands at 35-3 (25 KOs) after the judges scored the fight 116-112 in his favor across all three cards. This victory settles the highly anticipated grudge match between the two English fighters, marking the most significant non-heavyweight boxing event in the UK since May 2014.
Eubank came close to stopping Benn in the final round, but ultimately there were no knockdowns. The fight, witnessed by 62,000 spectators at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, largely met the high expectations.
Despite the challenge of making the 160-pound middleweight limit – which he missed by a mere 0.05 pounds on Friday, incurring a $500,000 penalty – Eubank showed no ill effects, performing particularly strongly in the championship rounds.
Following the bout, Eubank, who was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure, commented, “I knew I was capable of that.” He added, “The history between our fathers inspires something special, and we showcased that tonight.”
“I persevered,” Eubank continued. “A lot has happened in my life, and I`m grateful to have my father back by my side. We honored the family legacy – onwards and upwards.”
He also expressed surprise at Benn`s resilience, stating, “I didn`t know Conor had that kind of fight in him.”
Although no major title was contested, the victory held immense significance for Eubank, whose own father had stopped Conor`s father, Nigel Benn, in 1990 before their 1993 draw for world titles. Notably, despite reports of their estrangement, Chris Sr. accompanied his son to the ring and was seen ringside alongside Nigel Benn.
Chris Jr. commented on his father`s presence, saying, “I wasn`t sure he would attend. It really motivated me. It felt important. He needed to be here; this event exists because of what he accomplished.”
This win positions Eubank to potentially challenge Saul `Canelo` Alvarez, the unified WBC, WBA, and WBO super middleweight champion, in 2026.
While Eubank has not yet captured a major world title, this performance was remarkable, demonstrating character in challenging moments and ultimately leading to triumph. For Benn, who suffered his first professional loss in his most significant bout to date, a move back down to welterweight or junior middleweight seems probable.
At 28, Benn has time to rebuild his career, but this defeat, following a bitter three-year build-up that included a memorable incident where Eubank broke an egg on his face at a press conference, will undoubtedly sting. Despite the loss, Benn indicated post-fight that he might remain at middleweight.
Benn reflected on the fight, saying, “Perhaps being inactive played a role; I`d been out of the ring for 14 months. It was a tight contest; I`ll need to review it. I did enjoy it though.” He added, “Maybe I spent too much time against the ropes. We knew Chris was a skilled fighter, and the pre-fight talk was just that – talk. I still believe I can compete at 160 pounds.”
Given the significant pay-per-view revenue anticipated from the UK market and the reported £18 million purse shared between the fighters, a fourth installment in the Eubank-Benn family rivalry seems highly probable.
Benn, aged 28, had not competed in the UK for three years due to a ban stemming from a positive drug test. This positive test was the reason their originally scheduled fight against Eubank was cancelled just two days before it was due to take place in October 2022.
However, Benn did not receive a warm reception, with fans booing his ring walk, while Eubank was cheered alongside his father. Benn, who spent his formative years in Spain and Australia before relocating to Essex, England, at 19 to start his pro career, threw some wild punches early but likely landed enough to secure the first round.
Benn began aggressively, his speed seemingly catching Eubank off guard. He connected with several right hooks and even a lead left hook in the second round. Benn`s agility also posed an early challenge for Eubank, but in the fourth round, Eubank closed the distance, landing a combination followed by a sharp right uppercut that visibly rocked Benn`s head.
Eubank, the 35-year-old from Brighton, started finding his range more consistently in the fifth, effectively using his double jab and landing strong right hooks. Both fighters exchanged solid blows in the sixth round of the captivating contest, but Eubank`s jab proved more effective. While Benn`s right hooks carried significant power throughout, Eubank`s overall offense seemed smoother, giving the Brighton fighter a clear advantage in the seventh.
The eighth round saw both men stand and trade heavy punches toe-to-toe, making it difficult to score as neither fighter seemed to gain a decisive advantage.
Benn showed renewed energy at the start of the ninth, but Eubank answered back with powerful right hands later in the round. Eubank sustained a cut near his right eye in the ninth and appeared weary as Benn pressed forward. Benn briefly stunned Eubank with a short left in the tenth, following up with a solid right hand.
Eubank rebounded after a difficult tenth round, outworking Benn in a punishing eleventh. The final round featured furious exchanges, with Eubank landing the more telling blows. He came close to dropping Benn with a left hook in the twelfth, but Benn incredibly stayed upright despite being hit by multiple hooks in the closing moments.
Despite the lack of knockdowns, the fight delivered tremendous entertainment.