Conor Benn: Rematch with 'drama queen' Chris Eubank Jr. targeted for September, 'I've got a relit fire in me'

Yahoo

07-05-2025

Conor Benn is probably among the few people in boxing who has yet to watch back his incredible 12-round battle with Chris Eubank Jr.
The April 26 clash between second-generation British boxers saw Eubank (35-3, 25 KOs) earn a thrilling unanimous decision in front of more than 60,000 spectators at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in North London. Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) suffered his first career defeat, though his stock could not be any higher in present day after their instant classic.
Advertisement
One day, he'll bring himself to review the third chapter in the 35-year boxing family rivalry.
'I haven't watched it back yet, fully,' Benn confessed Tuesday on Uncrowned's and DAZN's "Ariel x Ade" show. 'I've got to build up the courage to watch it back.
'There are loads of mistakes I made. Loads of things I didn't do in there that I know I should have done. So, I haven't had the courage to watch it back.'
Benn, 28, entered the fight unbeaten and with hopes to one day challenge for a welterweight title. Still, the opportunity to resurrect his grudge match with Eubank was enough of a priority to move up two divisions to middleweight for the occasion.
Advertisement
Fittingly, the same weight division housed the first meeting between their famous fathers. Nigel Benn saw his WBO middleweight title reign come to an end when he was stopped in the ninth round by Chris Eubank Sr. in their 1990 meeting in Birmingham, England.
The fight helped usher in a pivotal moment in the British boxing history, enough to where the two ran it back nearly three years later. Both fighters moved up to and won titles at super middleweight, but fought to a draw in their 1993 WBC/WBO unification match in front of 47,000 fans at Old Trafford Stadium in Manchester, England.
Thus, the onus was on the younger Benn to put his family on the scoreboard.
Advertisement
April's grudge match came 14 months after Benn's previous in-ring appearance, but also two and a half years after the cancellation of the original Eubank vs. Benn date in October 2022. A drug-testing scandal ultimately shut down that event, and Benn was left to prove to the world that he was a clean fighter after having tested positive for clomiphene.
It was a long road back to respect. Benn and career-long promoter Eddie Hearn — chairman of Matchroom Boxing — gained little public sympathy even after Benn was cleared to fight in the U.S. in September 2023. A pair of wins stateside helped shake loose some rust, but not much of the ongoing scrutiny.
Benn literally wore egg on his face at the end of the kickoff press conference to confirm their rescheduled affair. Eubank smashed yolk and shell across the right side of Benn's face, his own visual for the scientific alibi provided that the positive drug tests were the result of egg contamination.
'Everyone knows what I've been through for the past two and a half years,' noted Benn. 'I haven't fought in England in three years. For me to get to that moment, it was a proud moment. You made it, Conor. I've been through a lot. I've been through hell and back.
Advertisement
'You don't know how much life has taken out of you when you go through things like that. It's in the back of your head, 'What do I have left in me?' I still have that fire. I still have that ambition and that drive to be the best fighter I can possibly be.'
Eubank further embraced the role of a fighter with a massive chip on his shoulder throughout the buildup. He only added to it after arriving well late to the weigh-in, only to still miss the mark by .05 pounds.
The fight proceeded, after Eubank was dealt a $500,000 fine and contractually bound to still make the next-day 10-pound rehydration limit.
Advertisement
Benn's cut of the unexpected windfall has been put to good use, including the purchase of a brand new Rolls Royce.
'Aside from the fight and the night and occasion, this was the second happiest moment of my year,' Benn joked. 'This was my gift because he was 0.05 over. He paid for my private jet and also for my Rolls Royce.
'Full respect, daddy. Cheers, Chris. You're a diamond. Miss weight again, will ya?"
That said, Eubank's scale fail was another reminder that Benn — who weighed 156.4 pounds — was naturally the much smaller fighter.
Still, he didn't come this far just to come this far.
Benn delivered the performance of his career; unfortunately, it was on a night where there was no quit in his opponent. The fight was nip and tuck through 10 rounds before Eubank swept the 11th and 12th rounds to prevail.
Advertisement
Hearing identical scorecards of 116-112 read in favor of the 35-year-old Eubank was difficult for Benn, who believed he deserved the nod. It was a tough way to break up his perfect record, though he takes comfort in knowing his name will remain etched in British boxing history for the right reasons.
'What I am happy of is that this will go down as a British classic,' said Benn. 'Your stock goes up from fights like that, giving people value for their money. People don't want to watch fighters who go in there to just to nick the fight, or to just win a round, just to get by. There was a lot on the line. We fought with our hearts in there.'
Conor Benn (right) and Chris Eubank Jr. put on an instant classic at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. ().
(Mark Robinson via Getty Images)
Both boxers had plenty of motivation. A reminder of the stakes came with their respective ringwalks, as they were accompanied by their fathers.
Advertisement
A father-son stroll to the ring was always in the cards for the Benns; not so much for the Eubanks.
The elder Eubank was always against the idea of the second-generation fight, going back to when it was first planned for 2022. He hadn't spoken with his son in years, until the eve of fight night. The scene of his arrival at Tottenham Hotspur, followed by their subsequent ringwalk, somehow outshone the incredible 12 rounds of action produced in the ring.
'Seeing him there, I was over the moon,' Benn said of the moment. 'It wouldn't have been the same without Senior turning up. I was happy for Chris. My dad is always in my corner, that goes without saying. My dad is my shadow.
'If the fight mended that relationship … money can't buy that.'
Advertisement
That said, the younger Benn and Eubank were each well compensated for their resurrected grudge match. A massive amount of hype surrounded the event, to where it was never believed that anything in the ring could ever match.
Somehow, they overdelivered. Short of coming to grips with his first loss, Benn can at least find comfort in the circumstance under which it was dealt.
'Even being able to give the public that level of entertainment, that makes me proud,' admitted Benn. 'There are so many fighters out there who don't entertain or take the responsibility to entertain. At the end of the day, I'd rather lose an exciting fight than win a boring fight. Because then I sit there and go, 'Did you actually even win?'
'That's my mindset. Ultimately, it's the entertainment business. Jumping up two weights and challenge Chris was a great experience. I thought I won the fight, I thought I nicked it, but it was my fault for letting it get back that close.'
Advertisement
The good news for Benn is that he won't have to wait another two and a half years for a shot at redemption.
While there was some discussion of a return to welterweight and a hoped-for title shot, nothing will pay better than a sequel with Eubank — and part four in England's most storied boxing family rivalry.
Nor will the potential for any other victory come with greater satisfaction.
'It's definitely Eubank [next],' Benn insisted. 'If I don't do Eubank next, that ship [has] sailed. It has to be Eubank next. If I don't, then that chapter's closed.
'Fingers crossed, we're working on a date now. There's talk about returning in September. The reality is, I'm ready to go [in] August. I stayed in the gym. While Eubank was in the hospital being a drama queen, I was back in the gym on the treadmill training. So I think I've got a relit fire in me.'