Chris Eubank Jr throws a punch against Conor Benn during their middleweight boxing match at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium in London on 16 April, 2025. Photo: AFP
Chris Eubank Jr dealt fellow Briton Conor Benn a first professional career defeat after winning a thrilling middleweight grudge match on a unanimous points decision on Saturday.
All three judges scored the non-title fight 116-112 after a pulsating 12-round slugfest, both fighters setting a ferocious pace as they went toe-to-toe in front of 65,000 at London's Tottenham Hotspur stadium.
There was no love lost in the pre-fight hype to a clash between the sons of 1990s arch-rivals Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn but the night ended with new-found respect and embraces on both sides.
"I knew I was capable of that, I just needed someone to bring me out," said Eubank Jr. "I'm not going to lie, I didn't expect he'd be the man to do that.
"I think the fact our fathers did what they did all those years ago, it brings out a different soul and spirit into you and that's what we both showed here tonight."
Father and son had become estranged in the run-up, with Eubank Sr labelling the 'Fatal Fury' fight a circus and his son's behaviour a 'disgrace', but they were together again in the ring before and after.
"I'm happy to have this man (his father) back with me. We upheld the family name like we said we were going to do. Onwards and upwards," added the 35-year-old after an impressive display of determination and willpower in an explosive final round.
"He needed to be here. All of this is because of what he did."
The scoreline flattered Eubank, even if there were no real quibbles about the winner, with a draw looking more likely. A rematch now looks inevitable.
Benn, 28, said he may have paid the price for more than a year out of the ring and was clearly disappointed after giving his all against an older and heavier opponent.
"Maybe I stayed on the ropes a bit too long. Chris is a good fighter. All the fighting talk is fighting talk. I'd love the rematch," he said.
Eubank suffered a cut over his right eye in the ninth round, with the referee clarifying that it had been caused by a clash of heads as the pair locked arms. Both had crashed to the canvas in round three as they wrestled.
The fight, put on with Saudi backing and presented by the Saudi-owned Ring Magazine, was a long time in the making - called off in 2022 when Benn tested positive for traces of fertility drug clomifene.
The World Boxing Council cleared Benn of intentional doping in 2023, saying a "highly elevated consumption of eggs" was a reasonable explanation.
Eubank Jr was fined NZ$840,000 on Friday (local time) after hitting the scales half an ounce over the limit at the weigh-in, his second stiff fine in a year, and NZ$223,000 in February for slapping Benn with an egg at a press conference.
Benn now has a record of 24 fights with one defeat while Eubank, the IBO middleweight champion, has won 32 of his 35 professional bouts.
- Reuters
