Ahead of his highly anticipated clash against Chris Eubank Jr. this Saturday, Conor Benn has articulated that his primary driving force is the deep-seated fear of experiencing defeat.
Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) is scheduled to face Eubank Jr. (34-3, 25 KOs) at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. This bout is a significant rematch that carries considerable animosity, rescheduled three years after their original meeting was cancelled following Benn`s positive tests for banned substances. Benn has since received clearance to compete in the UK.
Adding to the tension is the historical rivalry between their fathers, boxing legends Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, who famously competed against each other twice in the 1990s.
The two fighters recently came face-to-face for the first time during fight week at the grand arrivals event held in London on Tuesday. It was there that Benn emphasized his motivation wasn`t the joy of winning, but rather the apprehension of losing.
“I fear losing all the time. That`s what gets me out of bed at five in the morning. I fear losing,” Benn stated candidly.
He elaborated on his mindset, explaining, “It`s just the way I work. Some people… they love to win. 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. Am I extremely confident? I`m very confident. Confident as ever because I put the work in.”
The fight is set to be contested at a catchweight of 160 pounds, with a specified 10-pound re-hydration limit in place.
The weight has been a point of discussion, as Benn is a natural welterweight (147 pounds) typically competing two divisions below the fight`s agreed weight. However, both boxers sought to downplay the weight difference as the deciding factor.
Eubank Jr. addressed the weight issue: “I keep hearing this two weight class thing, he`s not coming up two weight classes. His last fight was at 156 pounds; he hasn`t been a welterweight for three years. This fight isn`t about size or weight. It`s about skill, dedication, expertise.” He added, “All those areas I excel in and have got many, many more years of experience than Conor Benn. That will be the dividing factor.”
Benn also maintained that the weight would not pose a problem for his performance. “My last two fights have been at 153. I am a welterweight,” he clarified. “My best performances have come at 147 [pounds]. I feel strong at 147 but I feel strong enough at 160 [pounds] to do a number on this man and then drop back down. I want that WBC world title [at 147 pounds].”