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Wales Online
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: Fight start time, TV channel and full undercard
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: Fight start time, TV channel and full undercard Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are finally set to go head-to-head this Saturday in a grudge match nearly three years in the making Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn face off (Image:) After a fiery build-up, Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are ready to settle a family feud spanning two generations. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will play host to the middleweight bout billed as 'Fatal Fury' this weekend. The two were first scheduled to fight in October 2022, but the bout, labelled 'Born Rivals,' was postponed after Benn tested positive for a banned substance. The title of that event was in reference to the iconic rivalry between the boxers' fathers, who fought twice for world titles during the early 1990s. Those fights finished with a Eubank Sr win and a draw three years later, and were full of animosity. After his failed test, Benn denied any wrongdoing and was eventually cleared to fight by the World Boxing Council. A 'highly elevated consumption of eggs' was given as the reason for the 28-year-old failing the initial test. Once the fight was rearranged, Eubank Jr slapped Benn with an egg during a press conference earlier this year, earning the 35-year-old a £100,000 fine. With the promotion for the fight often descending into chaos, expect every punch to be loaded with some extra spite. Now, along with an undercard stacked with talent, the two Brits will finally settle their score. Eubank Jr vs Benn fight times and TV channel The event will start at 5pm UK time, with the ring walks for the main event predicted to be around 9:45pm. For those keen to watch it live, the event will be broadcast on DAZN PPV. It is priced at £19.95. Customers will get seven days' worth of free access to the DAZN platform if they choose to sign up for the fight. Sky Sports Box Office will also be showing the fight. Watch Eubank Jr. vs Benn live on DAZN £21.99 £19.95 DAZN Order the fight here Product Description Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn will face off on Saturday, April 26, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Fans can order the fight on DAZN PPV for £19.95, which also comes with a DAZN seven-day free trial. Eubank Jr vs Benn full card While the spotlight will be on the main event, the undercard features a wealth of British talent. Veteran former world champion Liam Smith takes on up-and-coming Irishman Aaron McKenna in a middleweight bout. Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur renew their own rivalry, having won a fight each in their two previous contests against each other. Chris Billam-Smith will be aiming to get back in the win column against American Brandon Glanton, having lost his cruiserweight title last November. And kicking off the night is Viddal Riley taking on Cheavon Clarke in a battle for the British cruiserweight title. Chris Eubank Jr (33-3) vs Conor Benn (23-0) Liam Smith (33-4-1) vs Aaron McKenna (19-0) Anthony Yarde (26-3) vs Lyndon Arthur (24-2) Chris Billam-Smith (20-2) vs Brandon Glanton (20-2) Article continues below Viddal Riley (12-0) vs Cheavon Clarke (10-1)
Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Boxing's most bitter fight night: Chris Eubank Jr takes on Conor Benn, son of his famous father's greatest rival, but Chris Sr refuses to attend amid a failed drugs test, 'egg-gate' - and a promoter who's dating the opposition's sister
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are just hours away from finally getting their hands on each other and writing the latest chapter in British boxing's greatest family rivalry. It all started 35 years ago when their fathers fought each other for the first time. And when this fight was first scheduled in 2022 it was dubbed 'Born Rivals', signalling how it was largely being built on their dads' legacies. But a lot has happened in the last 30 months, and a new feud has sparked into life. It has become clear that - like their fathers - Eubank Jr and Benn do not get along. Eubank Jr has accused his rival of 'cheating', while Benn has made no secret of the fact he thinks his opponent on Saturday night is an 'idiot'. Neither man dares lose this weekend, as they know family honour and bragging rights are all on the line. Here, Mail Sport assesses how Eubank Jr vs Benn grew into the most bitter fight in boxing history. The rivalry is born Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr rose to the top of the middleweight rankings in the late 1980s, and the former got his hands on the WBO title in April 1990. A clash between the pair was inevitable, and it was agreed for November 18, 1990 at Birmingham's NEC Arena. Both men famously signed their contracts on live TV, with Eubank Sr doing all he could to get under his opponent's skin, while Benn struggled to keep his composure. Millions tuned in to see how the fight would play out, with Eubank Sr considered the underdog given his limited level of opposition in his previous 24 fights. But he upset the odds, surviving a knockdown before forcing a ninth-round stoppage to become world champion. The toe-to-toe battle was so gripping that a rematch simply had to happen. Three years later, fans got their wish as the two Brits signed to fight each other at Old Trafford. Once again, neither man took a backwards step, but despite many observers feeling Benn had done enough to get his hand raised the contest was scored a draw. For some reason, a third fight never materialised. Having shared almost 21 rounds together there was respect between the pair, but it did feel like there was unfinished business. Step forward the sons... The rivalry reignites Eubank Sr was initially reluctant to let his son box, but Jr eventually got his way and turned professional in 2011. Five years later Nigel's son, Conor, also made the switch to the professional ranks and found himself sitting on the same table as the Eubanks at a press conference in 2016. With Nigel absent from the media event, Eubank Sr raised concerns about Conor's lack of guidance and suggested he was not surrounding himself with the right people. Conor bit back. 'Who are you to talk about my personal life in front of all these cameras?' he asked Eubank Sr. 'I find that extremely disrespectful. It's none of your business. 'If you want to talk about my dad, talk about him. Don't talk about me and come with all that.' Eubank Sr seemed taken aback by Conor's response as he attempted to defuse the situation, but there was no backing down from Nigel's son. At the time, Eubank Jr was campaigning at middleweight, while Benn was three divisions lower at light-welterweight, but the exchange planted the seed for what was to come further down the line. The failed drugs tests Six years on from that tense confrontation, Eubank Jr and Benn were still fighting two divisions apart, but that did not matter to them. They wanted to settle their differences in the ring. After months of negotiations, it was announced that they would face each other at a catchweight of 157lbs in October 2022. Fight week arrived and anticipation was growing for the O2 Arena bout, but just three days before they were due to meet, Mail Sport exclusively revealed that Benn had failed a drugs test. Benn had tested positive for the banned substance clomifene, and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) announced that they would no longer be sanctioning the fight. The two fighters still went ahead with their public workouts amid uncertainty over whether the fight would still take place, until it was finally cancelled on the Thursday. Eubank Sr had opposed the fight even before the failed drugs test - and it later transpired that Benn had tested positive twice. He was unhappy with his son dropping to below the middleweight limit, and subsequently accused the organisers of the fight of 'attempted murder' as he explained why he refused to get involved in the bout. 'If you're 33 years old, you can't do what you used to do in your mid-20s, which is to lose weight and to be able to handle the loss of that weight,' he told talkSPORT. 'To take a man down 3lbs beneath the middleweight limit (160lbs), to have him boil down to 157lbs is literally attempted murder. 'And they wanted me to be an accomplice to it. They were asking me to take money to come onto DAZN and be a part of it. 'They asked me to be in my son's corner, they were trying to pay me to be in my son's corner, they wanted me to be an accomplice to my son's murder.' Eubank Jr was filed £375,000 on Friday after missing weight for Saturday's big fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He was hit with the heavy fine after weighing 0.05lb over the 11st 6lb middleweight limit. The egg slap In the aftermath of his failed tests, Benn insisted he had not done anything wrong. He relinquished his British licence and set about trying to find out how clomifene had got into his system. One theory that he put forward for the adverse findings was that he may have consumed too many eggs in the build-up to the fight. He later backtracked on this, but it clearly stuck with Eubank Jr. After two years of trying to prove his innocence, Benn was finally cleared to fight in November 2024, and it did not take long for his grudge match with Eubank Jr to be rescheduled. They went face-to-face at the launch press conference in February, and Eubank Jr ensured it was a memorable occasion. During the staredown, Eubank Jr grabbed an egg - a reference to Benn's bizarre excuse - and slapped his rival around the face with it. Chaotic scenes ensued, with security having to jump in to keep the pair apart. Eubank Jr was fined £100,000 for his actions, but insisted he had no regrets. Eubank Sr turns on his son Eubank Sr was not at either press conference in February after disapproving of the fight once again. That doesn't mean he wasn't keeping a close eye on his son's behaviour. Speaking last week, he branded Eubank Jr 'a disgrace', while also confirming he would not attend the fight. Asked for his thoughts on Eubank Jr's stunt, Sr said: 'That is disgraceful. I'm going to be in your corner? I would never have been in your corner; that is a disgrace. 'You are smashing an egg in someone's face, and you are trying to justify it. There is no justification for it. There is nothing noble about that.' Eubank Jr addressed his father's criticism at Thursday's final press conference, as he spoke about the 'pain' of not having Sr by his side for the biggest fight of his career. In an emotional monologue, Eubank Jr also opened up about the agony of losing his brother, Sebastian, following a heart attack in Dubai in 2021. 'I have a 31-year-old brother who is buried in the desert in Dubai; that is pain,' Jr explained. 'I have his son, three years old, he asks why can't I see my daddy? Why can't he take me to school? That is pain. 'My own father, a man I idolised for my entire life, and he doesn't speak to me. We haven't spoken for years and he thinks I'm a disgrace. These things are what pain is to me.' Eubank Sr also lost his brother, Simon, in 2023 following a battle with dementia, and described seeing him struggle in his final days as 'soul-destroying'. The former world champion also raised concerns about his son fighting at the middleweight limit of 160lbs after also agreeing to a rehydration clause that states he cannot weigh more than 170lbs at a second-weigh in on the day of the fight. Eubank Jr subsequently missed weight by half an ounce on Friday and was hit with a $500,000 fine. Eubank Jr opened up on the 'pain' of his father turning on him at Thursday's press conference Split loyalties Tragedy has struck the Eubank family in recent years with the passing of Sebastian and Simon. There are also complications within the family dynamic that only add intrigue to Saturday's fight. At Thursday's press conference, Eubank Jr refused to let Eddie Hearn speak, leading to Benn's promoter calling his right-hand man Frank Smith to the stage to take his place. Fascinatingly, Smith is currently dating Eubank Jr's sister, Emily, and the couple have been together since 2016. Eubank Jr was not interested in letting his potential brother-in-law speak at Thursday's press conference Due to this, Smith has a greater insight into the Eubank family, but there is no doubting that he is in Benn's corner this weekend. Eubank Jr also showed he has little time for his potential future brother-in-law as he quickly shut him down at the top table. 'If I'm not letting Eddie speak then there is no way you are getting a chance,' Eubank Jr told Smith. It promises to be a slightly uncomfortable evening for Smith on Saturday. He recently revealed that he called Eubank Jr an 'a***hole' in the past, but also admitted he is 'probably a bit too close' to the fight for his liking.
Al Jazeera
24-04-2025
- Sport
- Al Jazeera
‘Born rivals': Your guide to the Eubank Jr vs Benn boxing fight
A decades-old boxing rivalry between two families is set for a revival when Conor Benn takes on Chris Eubank Jr in a grudge match that has been over two years in the making. The British fighters will finally meet in the ring after their initial bout in 2022 was cancelled amid controversial circumstances. Here's everything you need to know about the fight: The fight is on Saturday, April 26 . The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom, will host the fight. The first fight is expected to begin at 18:00 GMT Al Jazeera Sport will provide live text updates and photo coverage of the undercard and main fight from 17:45 GMT. The fight will be livestreamed pay-per-view on DAZN. While organisers have not revealed the figures, the total purse is believed to be $23m with a 60-40 split of the main fight tilted towards Eubank Jr. Son of British boxing great and former middleweight boxing champion Chris Eubank, Eubank Jr is a professional boxer from Hove, a southern seaside town in the UK. Since making his professional debut in 2011, the 35-year-old is the International Boxing Organization's (IBO) reigning middleweight champion and has also previously held the IBO's super middleweight title and the World Boxing Organization 's interim middleweight title. Fighting with an orthodox stance, Eubank Jr is the top-ranked middleweight boxer in the UK and third in the world. Benn, too, has boxing flowing through his blood as his father Nigel Benn was a two-weight champion in the 1990s. Based in the East London suburb of Ilford, the 28-year-old turned professional in 2016. While Benn has yet to lose a professional fight, the boxer has faced a fair share of controversy, having failed a doping test in 2022. The then-rising star of British boxing was suspended by the UK's anti-doping agency for using clomifene, a fertility drug deemed prohibited. His suspension was in November 2024. Saturday's bout is a battle of second-generation contenders, reviving the Benn v Eubank feud in which the rivals' fathers battled it out in two ferocious contests in the early 1990s. The pair's first gruesome fight took place in November 1990, which Eubank won by total knockout in the ninth round. A much-anticipated rematch was set up three years later and ended in a draw, leading to both men retaining their respective belts. Nearly 22 years on, the progenies were meant to face off until Benn's doping violation put off the fight, which was titled, 'Born Rivals'. Despite the history, the fighters insist they have not been urged by their fathers to revive the rivalry. Both senior fighters have been seen making cordial public appearances in recent years. Eubank Jr smashed an egg into Benn's face during a news conference in February. As the fighters faced off on stage, Eubank Jr pulled an egg from his pocket and smashed it against Benn's face, sparking a brawl as promoter Eddie Hearn and Benn's father, Nigel, tried to get at Eubank and his team. Eubank Jr, who was fined $129,000 by the British Boxing Board of Control, had already made a reference to two drug tests Benn failed in 2022, which led to a two-year battle with anti-doping authorities. 'Apparently, egg contamination was the reason for his two failed drug tests. So I contaminated him with an egg,' Eubank Jr posted on X. He defended his actions two days later at a second media event and said: 'Did I cross the line? During this whole process, I think many lines have been crossed.' Benn responded on X, saying: 'That's the only shot you'll land on me … two rounds you are finished.' Eubank Sr labelled his son a 'disgrace' for his pre-fight antics. Since the bout will be fought at middleweight – 160lbs (71.5kg) – Benn must move up from his welterweight division – 147lbs (66kg). Meanwhile, Eubank Jr fights at middleweight, but since the boxers cannot weigh more than 170lbs (77kg) on fight night, he will have to drop from his 180lbs (81kg). But Eubank Jr has said he will fight with the precision of a 'matador' and treat Benn like a 'bull' and has no intention of backing down. 'This fight isn't about size or weight, it's about skill and dedication, it's about expertise and all of those areas I excel in. I have many years of experience over Conor Benn, and that will be the deciding factor on the night,' he said on Tuesday. 'I'm a complete fighter. I've been doing this for so long now, I've forgotten more things than he even knows, and that will show on the night. 'The procedure will be parliamentary, everything will go the way I want it to go, I will be like a matador in the ring, and Conor Benn will be the bull.' Benn will treat the fight as another opportunity to continue his unbeaten run. 'It's always personal. People say it's business. This is not business, it never is,' he said in the media events leading up to the fight. 'If you're trying to put your hands on me and render me unconscious, then it's not business, and this is personal.' The former champion has distanced himself from the fight propped on the legacy of his rivalry with Benn senior. Eubank believes the fight will put his son's life at risk, especially as he will have to move down in the weight division. 'My son probably walks around at around 180lb [81.6kg], and he has to boil himself down to 160lb [71.5kg],' he said in an interview with British tabloid The Sun last week. 'People don't understand what it means for Junior to get down to 160lb, at his age. They don't understand the drying out. 'I know what that feels like. I know about the dehydration and the damage it does to fighters.' The 58-year-old said it was 'absolutely crazy' that his son agreed to the fight, which is touted to revive the decades-old rivalry.
Daily Record
23-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn boxing purses revealed as both fighters warned of mega fine for missing weight
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are set to earn around £7.5million ($10m) each for their middleweight grudge match this weekend. However, Brighton's Eubank Jr could lose a significant portion of his earnings if he fails to meet the weight requirements at either weigh-in. The contract for the $20m fight states that any fighter exceeding the limit will be fined for every pound they are over. The fine is believed to be in the high six figures, potentially escalating to over £1m. Both Eubank Jr and Benn will have a private weigh-in on Friday morning, where they must meet the middleweight limit of 11st 6lbs. They will then participate in a public weigh-in at the Business Design Centre in London at 6pm on Friday, but this is merely for show. On Saturday, both fighters must weigh-in again, and cannot exceed 12st 2lbs without facing hefty fines. It remains unclear whether the fined money will go to the opponent or simply be deducted from their purse, reports the Mirror . Eubank Jr has already been hit with a £100,000 fine by the British Boxing Board of Control for throwing an egg at Benn during the announcement press conference in February. He is currently appealing the decision, with his case set to be heard after this fight. Both fighters have been cautioned about their behaviour this week at pre-fight events, ahead of Saturday's showdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium . The upcoming fight, dubbed 'Born Rivals', is steeped in the history of the fighters' fathers, Chris Sr and Nigel, who had two memorable clashes in the 1990s. However, the rivalry has been marred by Benn's previous anti-doping test issues for the banned substance clomifene, which led to a cancelled fight at the O2 in London in 2022. Despite always denying any wrongdoing, and having his case dismissed by the National Anti-Doping Panel, Benn has embraced the role of the villain since the incident. Chris Eubank Sr has openly expressed his opposition to the fight, citing weight restrictions on his son as one of the reasons. Eubank Jr has fought his last four fights at middleweight without a rehydration clause, and has also previously fought at the super-middleweight limit of 12st. The first scheduled fight between the pair was called off due to an adverse finding in one of Benn's Voluntary Anti-Doping Association tests. The contracted weight for that bout was 11st 3lb, which also upset Eubank Sr. Eubank Jr, from Brighton, claimed he hit Benn with an egg to ensure the world wouldn't forget about the drug-test issues. The WBC suggested that the presence of clomifene in Benn's system could have been due to eating eggs.
