Big fight preview: We take a look into the Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn story as the Brighton boxer prepares to feel like the hero for the first time in his career
If this is a fight built on the foundations of a rivalry between their fathers – then it is fair to say the doping scandal is the blocks which have made this the event that it is.
The sons of two British sporting icons are supposedly putting family legacy on the line at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night. Chris Eubank Jr, the son of Chris Sr, takes on Conor Benn, one of Nigel’s offspring, in a middleweight battle.
One of the biggest fight in British boxing history as promoters involved have claimed? Hyperbole. Yet a 65,000 sell out is the official line from those running the event.
Although tickets were freely available from numerous people around boxing and available below face value on reselling sites up until the weekend.
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The fact that both fighters will earn in the region of £7.5m for the bout – which is more than three times their purses for their initial October 2022 date – proves that the doping controversy has made this bigger.
It also helps that Saudi Arabia, under the Ring Magazine banner, are bankrolling the event with a sponsorship from a computer game which has not got a suitable name to be associated with boxing. It feels wrong to see both men stand in front of a banner that reads ‘Fatal Fury’ given the dangers of this sport and the history of fighters who have been left stricken by their fathers.
When Benn walked out of a hotel in Canary Wharf with his bags packed and the first incarnation of this fight was officially off in October 2022, it always felt if they ever came together again it would be worth more money for all. Benn has spent the last two-and-a-half years trying to shake off two positive drug tests for the banned substance clomifene while screaming his innocence.
It has been a protracted battle with UK Anti-Doping and the National Anti-Doping Panel were not satisfied with the evidence so Benn was cleared to resume his career with his statement that he has done no wrong.
Back in 2022, Eubank Jr was made aware of one test and willing to fight on before the British Boxing Board of Control stepped in. He was unaware of an earlier failed test until it emerged in the media. The reasons for the substance being in Benn’s sample are still not public. He can reveal but he has chosen not to. Potentially down to future legal action but the punters want answers.
It has all added to Eubank Jr’s hatred for Benn and his anger towards his rival’s promoter Eddie Hearn is obvious. So why sign up for this?
“The risk was worth it for the size of this fight and for the interest that it has garnered,” said the Brighton man. “The risk was worth it. And, you know, I don’t like this guy. I want to get in there and take him out.
“That is a passion that was never gonna go away, regardless of what happened in the past, the fight has to happen.”
When Benn was confronted by journalists about why he has not revealed the reasons for his case not going further at a launch press conference back in February, he reacted angrily. Then when questioned as to what licence he would fight under, he threatened to physically remove a journalist from the room and not in a gentle fashion.
Benn and promoter Hearn claimed that they wanted to move on from the doping scandal and just talk about the fight. But while they could bristle at questions from journalists, Eubank Jr would make his own point. With an egg to the face to finish off what was an ugly meeting in front of the media.
“I don’t know if it was honourable but it was what was needed for the statement I wanted to make,” said Eubank Jr. “But the truth of it is it was not really a heroic thing to do. But it was just what I decided needed to be done.”
It would set the tone for the build up. There were more claims from Eubank Jr about Benn “cheating” at the final press conference on Thursday. Given Eubank Jr has played the villain for so long, he is now in a strange position of potentially being less hated than his opponent.
“I don’t know if I’m gonna get cheered into that arena, you know, if you’re talking about statistically, the chances are I’m gonna get booed because of just everything that’s happened in my entire career, “ he said.
“I’m not hoping for anything to change because the expectation is just not there. I’m too used to being the villain, the bad guy.
“I’ve accepted that if it changes, great. I don’t know how I will react to it. I don’t know how I feel walking into a crowd of people cheering me on, because I’m so used to that negative energy coming into an arena.”
There was time for more drama on Friday and worrying scenes from Eubank Jr of his weight cut with sauna suits used in what looked like a dangerously draining process. He would then be less than an ounce over the 160lb limit costing him at least £375,000 on top of the £100,000 for the egg slap. There could be more fines on Saturday if he doesn’t make the 10lb rehydration limit.
If that wasn’t enough there was even a clash between Matchroom’s Frank Smith, who works with Benn but is married to Eubank Jr’s sister Emily, and Mazhar Majeed, the sports agent who served time for a spot fixing scandal in cricket but now works in the Brighton boxer’s team. All of this on top of a family feud of 35 years.
Eubank Sr has refused to play any part. He fears the weight restrictions in place could harm his son and he was disgusted by the behaviour at the initial press conference.
Back in 1990, he and Benn were involved in one of British boxing’s most iconic fights. The rivalry was initially sporting then turned toxic when their personalities clashed.
Benn, a former member of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, had gone to America to rebuild after defeat by Michael Watson and brought the WBO middleweight crown back as the ‘Dark Destroyer’ reborn.
Eubank, an eccentric and flamboyant character, had been built well by promoter Barry Hearn and was ready for his big moment at the then NEC Arena in Birmingham. He got it with a ninth-round stoppage in a brutal battle. Their rematch three years later, although a bigger event at Old Trafford, was not as thrilling and ended in a draw.
It’s taken three decades for the trilogy fight and it comes in the form of their sons. But while the fathers’ rivalry was organic, this one seems to have been genetically modified.
Benn, a career welterweight before his doping scandal, was never likely to face Eubank Jr, a fighter who has flittered between super-middleweight and middleweight.
The intrigue comes in a sporting context of what, at 35, has Eubank Jr got left and how will he deal with only being allowed to rehydrate by 10lb overnight? Recent evidence shows a fighter on the way down.
On the other side, how will unbeaten Benn, after having two uninspiring fights at light-middleweight in America, deal with the size disadvantage in moving up to 11st 6lb?
His best wins at welterweight were against faded foreign fighters fed to him at the right time, too. What is certain is that, even if we get an exciting fight, there will be bigger questions to be answered when it comes to where the winner stands among the top middleweights.
Yet those who crave nostalgia will get their fix, those involved will line their pockets and a family feud will have a new chapter. But it is unlikely to be remembered as fondly as their fathers’ famous fights which are now part of British boxing folklore. This will more likely be known for controversy rather than as a classic.
