Chris Eubank Jr. not only ended his long-standing rivalry with Conor Benn this past Saturday but also continued a family legacy.
Following this victory, Eubank Jr. should now look beyond this rivalry and aim for a major fight against Saul `Canelo` Alvarez.
This win extends the Eubank family`s dominance in one of boxing`s most historic rivalries, making their record against the Benns 2-0 with one draw. Eubank Jr.`s unanimous decision victory (116-112, 116-112, 116-112) in a tough contest mirrors his father Chris Eubank Sr.`s 1990 stoppage of Nigel Benn for the middleweight title and a controversial super middleweight title draw three years later.
A significant moment was Eubank Jr.`s reconciliation with his father after a public disagreement. Despite Chris Sr. having called his son`s egg-smashing stunt “a disgrace” the previous week, he made a surprise appearance at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to support his son`s impressive performance.
Chris Sr.`s unexpected presence provided a major morale boost for Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs), who showed periods of dominance. He absorbed Benn`s fierce attacks and countered effectively, utilizing a consistently strong jab.
In the fourth round, Eubank landed a powerful right uppercut that Benn somehow withstood. Similar to how his father Chris Sr. overcame a draining fight against Nigel to secure a ninth-round stoppage in 1990, Chris Jr. recovered after a messy tenth round to control the closing rounds of this non-title middleweight contest.
The 28-year-old Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) appeared in trouble in the final round but bravely survived the barrage, suffering his first professional loss.
Could this victory over Conor Benn significantly elevate Chris Jr.`s career, much like Chris Sr.`s win over Nigel Benn did for him? Chris Jr., a 35-year-old from Brighton, was only one year old when his father won his first world title by defeating Nigel in Birmingham.
Although Chris Jr. has not yet claimed a major world championship, this win over Conor should position him for a title opportunity later this year. He holds rankings of No. 3 with both the WBC and IBF organizations, where Janibek Alimkhanuly and Carlos Adames are the current champions.
However, considering his difficulties making the 160-pound middleweight limit, a move up to super middleweight seems likely. He missed the weight by a mere 0.05 pounds on Friday, resulting in a substantial $500,000 (£375,000) penalty.
Furthermore, Eubank Jr. was subject to a 10-pound rehydration limit, preventing him from weighing more than 170 pounds on fight morning. While a fight against Alimkhanuly would be challenging, the English boxer may now pursue other options.
More significant and profitable opportunities await Eubank Jr. at super middleweight, including a potential bout with boxing`s biggest star, Saul `Canelo` Alvarez (62-2-2, 39 KOs), the 34-year-old Mexican champion.
Alvarez, the unified WBC-WBA-WBO super middleweight champion, is scheduled to fight Cuba`s William Scull (23-0, 9 KOs) on May 3, with a potential match against American Terence Crawford lined up for September 13 if he wins.
Discussions have reportedly taken place regarding a potential clash between Canelo and Eubank Jr. as part of Saudi Arabia`s Riyadh Season in 2026. However, this timeline still leaves room for Eubank Jr. to compete again this year.
Benn, who resides in Essex having grown up in Spain and Australia, suggested he might remain at middleweight. However, he could potentially find better chances to secure a world title at a lower weight class, such as junior middleweight or welterweight.
Earlier in 2025, Benn had targeted a fight with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. While the recent fight was arguably the biggest night of Conor`s career, it still doesn`t place him on the same level as his father`s achievements.
Nigel Benn (42-5-1, 35 KOs), 61, and Chris Eubank Sr. (45-5-2, 23 KOs), 58, who were notably seated together during the fight, were significantly bigger stars in the UK during their era and achieved more success in their careers.
Both fathers held world titles at both middleweight and super middleweight, a feat Conor and Chris Jr. have yet to accomplish collectively.
A fight against Canelo would undoubtedly be the pinnacle of Eubank Jr.`s career and is something he is likely to prioritize above all else, including a potential rematch with Benn.
Defeating Canelo would surpass any victory his father achieved, making a profitable confrontation with the Mexican superstar Eubank Jr.`s absolute top priority moving forward.