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Daily Mail
26-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Revealed: The vision behind Conor Benn's bold £100,000 'Not Guilty' necklace ahead of crunch Chris Eubank Jr showdown
When Conor Benn stepped onto the scales for Friday's weigh-in ahead of his highly-anticipated clash with Chris Eubank Jr, it wasn't just his physical condition that caught the eye — it was the dazzling 'Not Guilty' necklace hanging around his neck. The bold piece wasn't a fashion choice. It was a statement. A declaration from a fighter who has spent nearly two years battling to clear his name after testing positive twice for the banned substance clomifene, a female fertility drug, in 2022. Though Benn always maintained his innocence, the failed tests led to the cancellation of his original fight against Eubank Jr in October 2022. After a lengthy investigation, Benn was eventually cleared to fight in the United Kingdom by the National Anti-Doping Panel, though questions and controversy have continued to swirl. Now, Benn is speaking with his fists — and his jewellery. The striking custom pendant was designed and created by A Jewellers in London, a brand known for crafting statement pieces for celebrities and athletes. Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport, Abtin Abbasi, Director at A Jewellers, revealed the vision behind Benn's new signature piece. 'Conor came to us with a strong and personal vision — he wanted a piece that made a statement,' Abbasi said. 'The idea was to create a custom 'Not Guilty' piece that would showcase his innocence and reflect everything he's stood for through a tough chapter. This pendant is a symbol of truth, resilience, and reclaiming his name.' Benn may be a welterweight, fighting at middleweight for the first time this evening, but the necklace is a heavyweight in more ways than one. Abbasi confirmed that the piece weighs approximately 1kg, giving it what he called a 'solid, high-quality feel.' And it's not just the size that impresses. The pendant is dripping with luxury, set with over 50 carats of D-VVS quality diamonds — the highest grade of diamonds typically used in elite custom jewellery — along with 7 carats of vivid 'pigeon blood' Burmese rubies, some of the rarest and most valuable rubies in the world. Such craftsmanship doesn't come cheap. Abbasi estimates that 'a fully custom piece like this, with the weight, diamonds, and level of craftsmanship involved, would typically start from around £100,000 depending on the final specs and stone quality.' Creating a piece with such meaning took time and precision. Abbasi explained, 'From concept to final polish, the process took eight weeks, with every step carefully handled to make sure it came out exactly as Conor envisioned — bold, clean, and powerful.' Benn's choice to unveil the necklace at the weigh-in was no accident. It was the culmination of months of frustration, fight, and, in his eyes, ultimate vindication.
Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Eubank Jr vs Benn offer: Back Eubank Jr at 50/1 or Benn at 80/1 with Paddy Power
Paddy Power is offering new customers odds of 50/1 for Chris Eubank Jr to win or Conor Benn to win at 80/1 ahead of the main event at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Paddy Power is offering new customers the chance to get 50/1 odds on Chris Eubank Jr to win or Conor Benn to come out victorious at 80/1 odds ahead of this weekend's boxing main event. Conor Benn remains unbeaten after 23 fights, with his most recent victory against Peter Dobson occurring just over a year ago in February 2024. His career has faced interruptions, largely due to a ban imposed by the National Anti-Doping Panel, which led to the cancellation of his initially scheduled bout with Chris Eubank Jr in October 2022. Following a positive test result, Benn voluntarily relinquished his boxing licence. However, he made a comeback in September 2023 after a 525-day hiatus, securing a unanimous decision win over Rodolfo Orozco. He continued his winning streak by defeating Peter Dobson in February 2024, also by unanimous decision. Once Benn's provisional suspension was lifted in November, discussions for rescheduling the fight with Eubank Jr resumed. The rivalry between the two has remained heated, culminating in an incident at their first press conference where Eubank Jr slapped Benn with an egg—a moment that underscored the ongoing tensions between them. Fans are eagerly anticipating this rescheduled showdown, which promises to be as intense outside the ring as it is inside. How to claim the Paddy Power Offer on Eubank Jr to win It could not be simpler claiming the Paddy Power offer ahead of Eubank Jr vs Benn: Click this link which will take you to the Paddy Power sign up page. Use promo code YSACKE Deposit £5 through card payment or Apple Pay Place a max £1 bet on the Match odds market on Chris Eubank Jr to beat Conor Benn, Saturday on April 26th. If your bet is successful, you will be paid in cash based on the normal price on site and will have the extra amount, bringing the bet up to the cumulative 50/1 payout, credited in free bets Free Bets valid for 7 days 18+ | Terms and conditions apply | | Gamble responsibly | Odds subject to change New customer offer. Place a max £1 bet on the Match odds market on Chris Eubank Jr to beat Conor Benn, Saturday on April 26th. Winnings paid in cash at normal odds and are topped up to the enhanced price in Free Bets. Free bets are valid 7 days, only deposits with cards & Apple Pay are eligible. Excludes multiples & in-play bets. T&C's apply. Please gamble responsibly. How to claim the Paddy Power Offer on Benn to win It could not be simpler claiming the Paddy Power offer ahead of Eubank Jr vs Benn: Click this link which will take you to the Paddy Power sign up page. Use promo code YSACKF Deposit £5 through card payment or Apple Pay Place a max £1 bet on the Match odds market on Conor Benn to beat Chris Eubank Jr, Saturday on April 26th. If your bet is successful, you will be paid in cash based on the normal price on site and will have the extra amount, bringing the bet up to the cumulative 80/1 payout, credited in free bets Free Bets valid for 7 days 18+ | Terms and conditions apply | | Gamble responsibly | Odds subject to change New customer offer. Place a max £1 bet on the Match odds market on Conor Benn to beat Chris Eubank Jr, Saturday on April 26th. Winnings paid in cash at normal odds and are topped up to the enhanced price in Free Bets. Free bets are valid 7 days, only deposits with cards & Apple Pay are eligible. Excludes multiples & in-play bets. T&C's apply. Please gamble responsibly. Terms and conditions Here are the key terms and conditions from Paddy Power: Full terms and conditions can be found here. Gamble responsibly Reach plc is committed to promoting safer gambling. All of our content and recommended bets are advised to those aged 18 or over. Odds are subject to change too. All widgets and factboxes contains affiliate links, which means we will receive commission on any sale of products or services we write. Learn more We strongly encourage our readers to only ever bet what they can afford to lose. For more information, please call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or visit
The Guardian
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Hard sell of Eubank Jr v Benn fails to disguise ugly fight loaded with danger and spite
Ben Shalom and Eddie Hearn usually do not like each other but on Thursday evening, at the final press conference for the troubling bout between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, the promoters were almost breathless in their audacity and unity as they hailed a gift from the boxing heavens. Shalom, Eubank Jr's promoter, lauded 'the biggest British boxing story ever', 'a monumental event' and 'an unbelievable show' which has been '35 years in the making' as he suggested that Saturday night's showdown completes the trilogy between two families – after the fighters' fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, shared a couple of seismic bouts in the early 1990s. Hearn, who promotes Benn, spoke of 'a fight for the generations … an iconic main event … an incredible time for boxing' and urged us to 'remember this night … this is what it's all about.' Eubank Jr is 35 years old and he has often campaigned as a super-middleweight at 168lb, which is 21lb heavier than the welterweight category in which Benn has mostly fought. He and Benn will now bridge the size-gap and meet as middleweights, but, on Friday morning, at the official weigh-in behind closed doors, Eubank Jr failed twice to make the 160 pound mark. While his second attempt was just 0.05lb (0.8 ounces) heavier than the contracted weight, Eubank Jr has been fined £375,000. He also faces a further test. Eubank Jr has to weigh in again on the morning of the fight and cannot scale more than an additional 10lb. After a hard weight-cut, Eubank Jr could normally add at least 15lb before stepping into the ring the following night. But the rehydration clause, which compromises his recovery and allows the fight to gain a worrying edge, has been condemned in some quarters. Peter Hamlyn, the neurosurgeon who has saved the lives of multiple boxers, if not all from the harm of brain damage, has spoken of the risk and irresponsibility. Chris Eubank Sr has pleaded for the fight to be stopped. He has also cut ties with his son because of the weight stipulation and the fact that Junior's antics have matched Benn's spiteful insults. They were first meant to fight in October 2022 – but that contest was cancelled after Benn returned two separate positive drug test results. Since then controversy and scandal have held sway. Benn has spent the intervening period ranting at the injustice he feels he has suffered while refusing to share the 'scientific proof' which he insists clears him of intentional wrongdoing. He has also railed against Eubank Jr who has goaded him as 'a cheat' and splattered an egg against his face. Saturday will be Benn's first UK fight in three years after the National Anti-Doping Panel concluded it was not satisfied an anti-doping violation had been proven and lifted a suspension last November. But the hard sell of an unpalatable fight has not caught fire yet. Even the heavy-handed Fatal Fury name given to the bout has been loaned from a promotionally linked gaming series that is far more popular than the battered old business of boxing. In a curiously flat fight week the commercial success might not be as clear-cut as has been previously suggested. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is apparently sold out but this week it has been possible to buy fight tickets for as little as £24 on websites which can charge exorbitant prices for sporting events. At the same time the promoters have been giving away plenty of freebies, in the form of online competitions, as there are apparently enough spares that were not snapped up by the paying public. This might be canny marketing but it seems strange that a heavily hyped fight, meant to generate widespread interest outside hardcore boxing circles, should have so many tickets floating around. However, the rehydration restrictions and bitter arguments have lent a layer of intrigue as to what might happen when Eubank Jr and Benn are alone in the ring. Most boxing insiders have long believed that Eubank Jr should win clearly. He might fall just short of true world-class pedigree but he is the bigger man, with so much more experience than Benn. But over the past few days there has been a sudden swing of guesswork that the 28-year-old Benn could prevail against the odds. Whenever so many seasoned judges change their minds it's worth pausing. The late backing of Benn seems to be based on gossip from sparring sessions, with Eubank Jr supposedly looking poor while Benn has apparently lit up the ring behind closed doors, and the abrupt realisation that age and weight might have humbled the favourite. Eubank Jr has lost three times in 37 fights and those defeats have been to domestic rivals – Billy Joe Saunders, George Groves and Liam Smith. The last, in January 2023, was the most shocking. Eubank Jr's iron jaw resembles his father's but, against Smith, he was knocked down twice before the fight was waved over in round four. It looked as if an ageing fighter was nearing the end of a bleak road. But Eubank Jr dominated the rematch nine months later. It emerged that Smith had various problems but, impressively, Eubank forced a 10th-round stoppage. Since then he has fought only once – a routine technical knockout of the Polish boxer, Kamil Szeremeta, in Riyadh. It meant that Eubank Jr had forced 10 knockdowns in his last three wins without resembling a devastating puncher. That anomaly might be another sign that age has drained Eubank Jr of his natural power. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion Benn had always seemed an average operator, after a brief amateur career, but he finally lived up to his father's name as a destroyer when he dispatched the veterans Chris Algieri and Chris van Heerden with chilling authority. These were his last fights before he tested positive for clomifene, with the two separate results being recorded months apart. While he struggled to clear his name Benn staged an unconvincing comeback in America and won a couple of laboured decisions against the obscure Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson. Now, it is claimed, he looks brilliant in the gym. He also appears much bigger and carries a burning intensity to hurt the man who has taunted him for so long. This injects some drama into the occasion but it should not be forgotten that we are watching two local rivals whose careers have battled to rise above decent competence. Those banging the drum have tried to make this sound like a British equivalent of the epic world middleweight fight between Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns which scorched the ring 40 years ago this month. But these fisticuffs are humdrum and even embarrassing in comparison. Boxing was once covered by great writers and social commentators. It is now a marginalised sport where its humble hacks are denied access to the fighters while they wait to hear if they will be granted accreditation. Those credentials can be withdrawn following criticism of Saudi Arabia or boxing's power-brokers. The optics look petty when one of the world's most visited and respected fight websites, Boxing Scene, has been denied accreditation for the past four major events to which it has submitted applications, including this week in Tottenham. Some highly credible writers and editors are being shut out of boxing. It is also timely to remember how the promoters and many of the undercard fighters on Thursday thanked Turki al-Sheikh for brokering the bout. Sheikh heads the General Entertainment Authority which has spent hundreds of millions of dollars securing Saudi Arabia's takeover of elite boxing. Twelve hours after Sheikh's name was celebrated, the Athletic published a sobering six-month investigation into the reputation of the man revered in boxing as His Excellency. The allegations are serious, and apparently well-sourced. Sheikh did not respond to the claims made against him in the investigation. It is likely that boxing will fall silent in regard to this issue once the sound and fury, signifying nothing, fade after Eubank Jr and Benn leave the ring. It fits the desolate pattern of today's fight business but, hey, as we keep being reminded, this is 'an incredible time for boxing.'
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hard sell of Eubank Jr v Benn fails to disguise ugly fight loaded with danger and spite
Ben Shalom and Eddie Hearn usually do not like each other but on Thursday evening, at the final press conference for the troubling bout between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn, the promoters were almost breathless in their audacity and unity as they hailed a gift from the boxing heavens. Shalom, Eubank Jr's promoter, lauded 'the biggest British boxing story ever', 'a monumental event' and 'an unbelievable show' which has been '35 years in the making' as he suggested that Saturday night's showdown completes the trilogy between two families – after the fighters' fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, shared a couple of seismic bouts in the early 1990s. Hearn, who promotes Benn, spoke of 'a fight for the generations … an iconic main event … an incredible time for boxing' and urged us to 'remember this night … this is what it's all about.' Advertisement Eubank Jr is 35 years old and he has often campaigned as a super-middleweight at 168lb, which is 21lb heavier than the welterweight category in which Benn has mostly fought. He and Benn will now bridge the size-gap and meet as middleweights, but, on Friday morning, at the official weigh-in behind closed doors, Eubank Jr failed twice to make the 160 pound mark. While his second attempt was just 0.05lb (0.8 ounces) heavier than the contracted weight, Eubank Jr has been fined £375,000. He also faces a further test. Eubank Jr has to weigh in again on the morning of the fight and cannot scale more than an additional 10lb. Related: Chris Eubank Jr silences Eddie Hearn and pledges to 'take out' Conor Benn After a hard weight-cut, Eubank Jr could normally add at least 15lb before stepping into the ring the following night. But the rehydration clause, which compromises his recovery and allows the fight to gain a worrying edge, has been condemned in some quarters. Advertisement Peter Hamlyn, the neurosurgeon who has saved the lives of multiple boxers, if not all from the harm of brain damage, has spoken of the risk and irresponsibility. Chris Eubank Sr has pleaded for the fight to be stopped. He has also cut ties with his son because of the weight stipulation and the fact that Junior's antics have matched Benn's spiteful insults. They were first meant to fight in October 2022 – but that contest was cancelled after Benn returned two separate positive drug test results. Since then controversy and scandal have held sway. Benn has spent the intervening period ranting at the injustice he feels he has suffered while refusing to share the 'scientific proof' which he insists clears him of intentional wrongdoing. He has also railed against Eubank Jr who has goaded him as 'a cheat' and splattered an egg against his face. Saturday will be Benn's first UK fight in three years after the National Anti-Doping Panel concluded it was not satisfied an anti-doping violation had been proven and lifted a suspension last November. But the hard sell of an unpalatable fight has not caught fire yet. Even the heavy-handed Fatal Fury name given to the bout has been loaned from a promotionally linked gaming series that is far more popular than the battered old business of boxing. In a curiously flat fight week the commercial success might not be as clear-cut as has been previously suggested. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is apparently sold out but this week it has been possible to buy fight tickets for as little as £24 on websites which can charge exorbitant prices for sporting events. At the same time the promoters have been giving away plenty of freebies, in the form of online competitions, as there are apparently enough spares that were not snapped up by the paying public. This might be canny marketing but it seems strange that a heavily hyped fight, meant to generate widespread interest outside hardcore boxing circles, should have so many tickets floating around. Advertisement However, the rehydration restrictions and bitter arguments have lent a layer of intrigue as to what might happen when Eubank Jr and Benn are alone in the ring. Most boxing insiders have long believed that Eubank Jr should win clearly. He might fall just short of true world-class pedigree but he is the bigger man, with so much more experience than Benn. But over the past few days there has been a sudden swing of guesswork that the 28-year-old Benn could prevail against the odds. Whenever so many seasoned judges change their minds it's worth pausing. The late backing of Benn seems to be based on gossip from sparring sessions, with Eubank Jr supposedly looking poor while Benn has apparently lit up the ring behind closed doors, and the abrupt realisation that age and weight might have humbled the favourite. Eubank Jr has lost three times in 37 fights and those defeats have been to domestic rivals – Billy Joe Saunders, George Groves and Liam Smith. The last, in January 2023, was the most shocking. Eubank Jr's iron jaw resembles his father's but, against Smith, he was knocked down twice before the fight was waved over in round four. It looked as if an ageing fighter was nearing the end of a bleak road. But Eubank Jr dominated the rematch nine months later. It emerged that Smith had various problems but, impressively, Eubank forced a 10th-round stoppage. Advertisement Since then he has fought only once – a routine technical knockout of the Polish boxer, Kamil Szeremeta, in Riyadh. It meant that Eubank Jr had forced 10 knockdowns in his last three wins without resembling a devastating puncher. That anomaly might be another sign that age has drained Eubank Jr of his natural power. Benn had always seemed an average operator, after a brief amateur career, but he finally lived up to his father's name as a destroyer when he dispatched the veterans Chris Algieri and Chris van Heerden with chilling authority. These were his last fights before he tested positive for clomifene, with the two separate results being recorded months apart. While he struggled to clear his name Benn staged an unconvincing comeback in America and won a couple of laboured decisions against the obscure Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson. Now, it is claimed, he looks brilliant in the gym. He also appears much bigger and carries a burning intensity to hurt the man who has taunted him for so long. This injects some drama into the occasion but it should not be forgotten that we are watching two local rivals whose careers have battled to rise above decent competence. Those banging the drum have tried to make this sound like a British equivalent of the epic world middleweight fight between Marvin Hagler and Tommy Hearns which scorched the ring 40 years ago this month. But these fisticuffs are humdrum and even embarrassing in comparison. Advertisement Related: Chris Eubank Jr: 'I shouldn't be doing this. But we are the daredevils of sport' Boxing was once covered by great writers and social commentators. It is now a marginalised sport where its humble hacks are denied access to the fighters while they wait to hear if they will be granted accreditation. Those credentials can be withdrawn following criticism of Saudi Arabia or boxing's power-brokers. The optics look petty when one of the world's most visited and respected fight websites, Boxing Scene, has been denied accreditation for the past four major events to which it has submitted applications, including this week in Tottenham. Some highly credible writers and editors are being shut out of boxing. It is also timely to remember how the promoters and many of the undercard fighters on Thursday thanked Turki al-Sheikh for brokering the bout. Sheikh heads the General Entertainment Authority which has spent hundreds of millions of dollars securing Saudi Arabia's takeover of elite boxing. Twelve hours after Sheikh's name was celebrated, the Athletic published a sobering six-month investigation into the reputation of the man revered in boxing as His Excellency. The allegations are serious, and apparently well-sourced. Sheikh did not respond to the claims made against him in the investigation. It is likely that boxing will fall silent in regard to this issue once the sound and fury, signifying nothing, fade after Eubank Jr and Benn leave the ring. It fits the desolate pattern of today's fight business but, hey, as we keep being reminded, this is 'an incredible time for boxing.'
Times
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Times
Chris Eubank Jr fined £375,000 for missing weight — what a circus this is
If you were looking for a tagline for the much anticipated, much derided grudge fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr you could do worse than rewind to 1990 and borrow the one from the first clash between their fathers. 'Who's Fooling Who?' still works. In one of the more knockabout asides after 2½ years of controversy, Eubank Jr, 35, said at the final press conference that he would be the head teacher and would duly school Benn, 28, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. He added that the younger man would be in detention, and the sceptical might think others should also be in that room after what has happened since this bout was first plotted. The fighters have been busy writing lines themselves. Ever since a catchweight clash was cancelled in 2022, after flawed attempts to plough on regardless of Benn's positive drug tests for clomifene, Eubank has been tossing out 'cheat' barbs. Benn, who denies any wrongdoing, has spoken about the 'hell' he has endured, even contemplating suicide, and the festering enmity has seen this bout upgraded from the original indoor venue at London's O2 arena to a sold-out stadium. There is obvious appeal in seeing two men exhume a family history born from Eubank Sr's win in Birmingham in 1990 and the drawn rematch at Old Trafford. World titles were at stake back then and they were genuine rivals operating in the same weight divisions. This time it is different. Eubank had some of his most memorable days at super-middleweight, beating James DeGale and losing to George Groves, while Benn is moving up two weight divisions. Even this week Eubank said he 'probably shouldn't be doing it' in reference to cutting weight and adhering to a rehydration clause that limits him to adding 10lb by Saturday morning. There are obvious dangers in not being fully hydrated, and it fitted the protracted, controversial nature of this fight when Eubank failed to make the 160lb middleweight limit on Friday. He was 160.2lb, and could only get down to 160.05lb when he tried again, and so was fined $500,000 (about £375,000). The previous night Eubank had admitted he was in pain from trying to make the weight and rumours about his struggles have been circulating all week. Benn weighed in at 156.4lb. The weight issue took some attention away from Eubank's relentless allegations of cheating. It should be pointed out that after a protracted saga, a conclusion was reached in November when a National Anti-Doping Panel ruled that it was not 'comfortably satisfied' that UK Anti-Doping had proved that Benn had committed an anti-doping violation. His provisional suspension was lifted. It was not the first time that Benn had been cleared to fight since 2022. Bizarrely, the WBC, one of the sport's main ranking bodies, said in 2023 that eating eggs could have been the cause despite Benn rejecting that appraisal. The WBC prompted more raised eyebrows on Friday when suggesting the winner of this bout could next face super-middleweight champion Saul 'Canelo' Álvarez. Benn may be an innocent victim but what is clear is that it would be useful for the reputation for both boxer and boxing if he explained how clomifene came to be in his system. If it was contamination or procedural problems with the tests that were performed by the Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada), a body not signed up to the Wada [World Anti-Doping Agency] Code, it would be helpful to release the evidence. It would also seem the easy way to silence Eubank, who fed on the lack of explanation when he cracked an egg on the side of Benn's face at a February press conference. All of this has not tempered the enthusiasm of 65,000 fans, but the lack of self-awareness from various parties involved in this contest takes some beating. Even this year's chosen tagline, 'Fatal Fury', due to a video game deal, seems bereft of common sense in a week when Michael Watson was in the headlines for walking a mile with the surgeon who saved his life after a near-fatal bout with Eubank Sr at White Hart Lane in 1991. Watson is a heroic spirit but a permanent reminder of boxing's risks. Sad, too, that Brandon Glanton used Thursday's undercard press conference to tell Bournemouth's Chris Billam-Smith: 'I'm gonna give you brain damage.' The American cruiserweight had earlier said Billam-Smith was a 'bitch' for having the temerity to disrespect him. Then it emerged Benn had asked Billy Joe Saunders to monitor Eubank's hands being wrapped on Saturday. Saunders had his own feud with Eubank, so you may see where Benn was coming from, but given the backdrop it might have been better not to recruit a man who once failed a test for a substance he blamed on a nasal spray. That was a Vada test and Ukad did not test for stimulants out of competition, so Saunders was not in breach of British Board regulations. Eddie Hearn, Benn's promoter, griped at the time: 'What's the point of signing up for drug-testing if, when you fail, everyone goes, 'Don't worry about it.' ' That came back to haunt him when Benn fell foul of Vada in 2022 and it took until the 11th hour for the Eubank bout to be called off. Yet after the drugs tests, the cracked egg, the weight problem and fines, this fight will happen. Benn's father, Nigel, said his son had looked amazing in training, forcing the IBF super-middleweight champion, William Scull, to quit early in sparring. That was disputed by Scull's team, but Benn Sr added: 'Conor's not a 12-round fighter, he's an old-school fighter who can go 15 rounds. Oh my gosh, you lot are in for a treat.' Benn himself claims he has no plan and will just unleash all his pent-up frustration on his goader, recalling his debut as proof he has the temperament as well as motivation 'There was no more pressure than a 19-year-old kid with amateur experience walking out to a packed arena. That's pressure.' That came after Eubank had claimed Benn had fled to Mallorca to train because he was 'feeling the heat' and could not cope with people shouting 'drug cheat' at him. Since 2022, Eubank has beaten and lost to Liam Smith, a third career reverse, but his stoppage of Kamil Szeremeta last October was his sole outing in 19 months. Benn, unbeaten, has had points wins over two unheralded opponents and not fought for more than a year. It remains to be seen whether he can rediscover the explosiveness that once made him so exciting, and whether Eubank is ageing or limited by the physical demands of the contract. It could be that the pair can conjure up something significant from this circus, but the hype about family feuds loses some impact when Eubank Sr has distanced himself from the occasion and branded Junior 'a disgrace' over his egg stunt. His son is capable of peddling twaddle but also lucid moments of introspection, so there was something genuinely moving when he sat across a stage from the Benns on Thursday and spoke about how he does not speak to the father he idolised. 'That's real pain,' he said. He had more. 'You know, it's not about strength and speed and age and weight,' he said. 'It's about dedication, who's paid their dues and who's done it clean. Who's real and who's fake?' Or, in old money, who's fooling who? Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Saturday, from 5pm (main event ring walks expected around 10.30pm)| TV: Sky Sports Box Office
