The British boxing rivals will finally settle the score on April 26, and many within the boxing community have been quick to offer their verdict on how it’ll play out
Mike Tyson doubts American boxing fans will tune in to Chris Eubank Jr’s clash with Conor Benn next weekend.
Eubank Jr and Benn are set to finally go head-to-head on April 26 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The pair were due to fight back in October 2022, but the bout was scrapped after Benn failed two pre-fight drug tests. With a little over a week to go until the dust-up, there has already been plenty of drama. Both have traded barbs on multiple occasions online, and during the launch press conference in Manchester, Eubank Jr sparked chaos after slapping his long-time rival in the face with an egg.
Fight week promises to be an entertaining one for the boxing faithful – with the event itself likely to be watched by millions across the globe. One man who will have both eyes on the domestic dust-up is Tyson – a former heavyweight world champion. Given his relationship with both Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, ‘Iron Mike’ is reluctant to make an official prediction for the clash.
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Despite all of the hype leading up to the contest, Tyson believes the fight is unlikely to be a big success in the United States. In an interview with Men’s Health, the American said: “Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are both very exciting fighters. I don’t know America would be interested, because I don’t think they’re internationally known. Well, I like both of them and it should be a very good fight so may the best man win. I’m good friends with their fathers.”
After failing the pre-fight drugs test, Benn has since been cleared to fight again as well as regaining his British Boxing Board of Control licence. With the two rivals finally set settle the score in the ring, Eubank Jr believes the upcoming clash will be a spectacle like never seen before in British boxing.
“The fight will be one of a kind. It has never happened in boxing,” he said. “No two fighters have had fathers who were world champions and fought in massive fights 30-odd years ago with the entire country watching. Now the two sons have grown up to become elite-level fighters and are going to fight. It has never happened and will never happen again. It is a massive deal.
“Fighting me, a sworn enemy in a fight broadcast around the world that could be at Wembley in front of 90,000 people or in an arena in Saudi is a whole different animal. It will bring out a beast in him that I cannot take lightly. I think it is going to be savage, one of the best fights British boxing, world boxing has seen for quite some time because it’s real. This isn’t pretend.”