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Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Chris Eubank offers blunt opinion over Conor Benn rematch after iconic brawl
Chris Eubank Jr outpointed Conor Benn in their brutal grudge match last month, and the 35-year-old believes a rematch is "very likely" to happen later this year Chris Eubank Jr is optimistic that a rematch with Conor Benn will take place later this year. The 35-year-old secured a unanimous decision victory over his rival at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in front of a crowd of 67,000, in their highly anticipated April bout and feels there's a strong desire for them to square off again. Plans for a second fight are already being discussed, with Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh eyeing a September date, provided both fighters are in shape and willing. Despite rumours that Eubank might choose a different opponent, the buzz around a rematch persists. "The rematch is very likely to happen. The demand is there," Eubank Jr shared with Mirror Sport during the PokerStars European Poker Tour Monte-Carlo event. "The fight we put on last Saturday was something that won't be forgotten. People, they really fell in love with that performance - from both of us. So in all likelihood there will be a rematch at some point this year." Having faced numerous high-profile opponents throughout his career, Eubank Jr acknowledges that his recent win has opened up several possibilities, including a potential bout with Canelo Alvarez. However, regardless of his next move, Eubank Jr believes he's now in a better position for future negotiations, having learned from previous experiences. The Brighton-born boxer reflected on the business side of boxing, admitting he had made mistakes in the past by signing the wrong contracts and making poor deals. However, he believes he has gained valuable experience and now knows his worth as a fighter, reports the Mirror. "The business aspect of boxing is crucial, and I've got it wrong so many times throughout my life where people take advantage and to make the wrong deals, sign the wrong contract. But you live and you learn," he noted. "Now I'm experienced enough to know the things I should be doing, the things I shouldn't be doing, what I'm worth as a fighter, what types of contracts are good to sign and what types of contracts you should stay away from. I have an amazing team around me of people that are watching my back at all times, and I'm in an amazing position now. "After that performance [against Benn], all the doors are open. There's not a fight in boxing right now that couldn't be made. So that's a beautiful feeling to know you're in that position, you're in the driving seat, and these next 12 months are going to be incredible." Speaking at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel and Resort, where he was participating in a private poker game organised by PokerStars, Eubank Jr acknowledged that the €5,000 minimum buy-in was no longer a daunting amount for him, especially after his substantial earnings from the Benn fight. Instead, he viewed the trip as an opportunity for relaxation and enjoyment. "To a lot of people, they couldn't imagine playing with large amounts of money, risking losing that type of money, and that being something that's relaxing to them," he explained. "But when you've been in these environments for so long it does become therapeutic, it does become fun, it does become relaxing. "It becomes something you can do to take your mind off all the craziness that's going on in the other parts of your life. For me, poker is fun, it's truly enjoyable, it's a passion and I'm happy doing it, so it is a relaxing activity for me." Felix Schneiders, a PokerStars ambassador and seasoned player, is familiar with matching wits against top sports figures. Having ousted football legend Sergio Aguero from last year's EPT Monte-Carlo, he values poker's even playing field where anyone with a few thousand euros can compete - a common scenario in this swanky locale. "I just met Chris for the first time, I shook hands with him," he said. "To be honest I didn't know who he was because I'm not into boxing, not into football, not into cars, not into anything like that, so I don't know if I have the right topics at hand! But I'm just going to sit down and have some fun with the lads, I'm just going in there without any expectations apart from having fun. "Aguero, he sat down at my table [last year], I didn't know who he was, busted him. It was a very unfortunate spot for him - he had ace-jack, flopped a jack, I had queens and we got it in. After I busted him he shook my hand and I was feeling something is special about this guy, I don't know what. Then I sat down again and my neighbour said to me 'do you know who you just busted?' "I was like 'no I don't' and he went 'check him out on instagram'. He's got like 8 million followers - yeah okay, nice, good to know. That's the beauty of poker. That's what I like about the game." For those facing Eubank in Monte-Carlo, the boxer himself serves as a prime example of sitting down at the poker table and finding yourself just metres away from the most famous person you've ever met. However, even the boxer isn't immune to the thrill of sitting across from superstars. "I've played against all sorts of people around the globe," he shared. "Very high stakes, very private games, very famous individuals, and it's incredible that you get to meet and spend time with all these characters. In a normal world, you would never sit down and play with Bruno Mars, you wouldn't be in his company. "But poker brings all these diverse characters and personalities into one room, onto one table, and you get to spend time and converse and listen and learn. That is actually probably one of the most attractive things to me about poker. "It's not even about the money, it's about the people and the experiences and the stories." Some aren't just renowned figures; they're also skilled poker players in their own right. When pressed to identify his most formidable opponents, he doesn't hesitate to mention one standout: Neymar. "Most athletes that I've ever played with have been like myself, just action, gamble, but it's not like skill, it's just fun," he explained. "I've seen Neymar play very skilfully and been very impressed with how he plays when he wants to play well. "There are definitely times where he doesn't give a s*** about playing well and is just there to gamble, and those are the best games you can imagine, but he's a very, very good player." The fact that numerous top-tier athletes attend European Poker Tour events – from Aguero to Rafa Nadal to Brazilian icon Ronaldo – is no fluke, and Eubank notes the mental similarities between his sport and his hobby. "Boxing and poker are extremely cerebral activities," he observed. "You have to be extremely sharp, you have to have a very strong mentality to be able to perform at the highest levels of these two worlds. A lot of people wouldn't imagine this, but in my opinion boxing is 70 percent, minimum, mental. You've got to be able to deal with the pressure, the pain, the sacrifice, and with dedication. "And if you can't deal with all of that it doesn't matter how fast and strong and fit you are, you're not going to win. You'll crumble under the pressures of boxing, and it's exactly the same with poker - you can crumble under the pressure. "You can go all in with aces, somebody goes all in with kings, they hit a king, you lose your entire stack and 'oh my god I've just lost all this money, what am I going to do?' Some guys, they fall apart, they chase, they tilt off the rest of their stack and it's a disaster. "And some guys are able to keep composed, keep the game plan, understand that it's a part of the game and not let it distract you from playing the best poker you can play. They're very mental activities and the people with the strongest will and the most discipline, those are the guys who excel."
Daily Mirror
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
Chris Eubank Jr gives honest verdict on Conor Benn rematch after brutal fight
Chris Eubank Jr beat Conor Benn in front of more than 60,000 fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a number of fans have been calling for a rematch between the pair Chris Eubank Jr believes a rematch with Conor Benn is 'very likely' to happen this year. The 35-year-old beat his compatriot by unanimous decision at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in front of 67,000 spectators in their long-awaited April fight, and is confident the appetite is there for the pair to go toe-to-toe once more. Details of a rematch have already been shared, with Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh hoping for a September fight if both men are fit and ready. And, despite speculation over Eubank opting for a different opponent, talk of another meeting isn't going away. 'The rematch is very likely to happen. The demand is there,' Eubank Jr tells Mirror Sport at the PokerStars European Poker Tour Monte-Carlo. 'The fight we put on last Saturday was something that won't be forgotten. People, they really fell in love with that performance - from both of us. So in all likelihood there will be a rematch at some point this year.' The 35-year-old has taken on plenty of top opponents over the course of his career, and recognises plenty of options have been put on the table thanks to his victory over Benn. A match-up with Canelo Alvarez has been touted, but whatever happens next, Eubank believes he's in a stronger position for negotiations after learning from past mistakes. 'The business aspect of boxing is crucial, and I've got it wrong so many times throughout my life where people take advantage and to make the wrong deals, sign the wrong contract. But you live and you learn,' he says. 'Now I'm experienced enough to know the things I should be doing, the things I shouldn't be doing, what I'm worth as a fighter, what types of contracts are good to sign and what types of contracts you should stay away from. I have an amazing team around me of people that are watching my back at all times, and I'm in an amazing position now. 'After that performance [against Benn], all the doors are open. There's not a fight in boxing right now that couldn't be made. So that's a beautiful feeling to know you're in that position, you're in the driving seat, and these next 12 months are going to be incredible.' Eubank Jr is speaking at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Casino, where he is taking part in a private poker game organised by PokerStars. The €5,000 minimum buy-in is certainly a sum he can afford, after his seven-figure purse from the Benn fight, but the trip is about fun and relaxation as much as it is about making money. 'To a lot of people, they couldn't imagine playing with large amounts of money, risking losing that type of money, and that being something that's relaxing to them,' he says. 'But when you've been in these environments for so long it does become therapeutic, it does become fun, it does become relaxing. 'It becomes something you can do to take your mind off all the craziness that's going on in the other parts of your life. For me, poker is fun, it's truly enjoyable, it's a passion and I'm happy doing it, so it is a relaxing activity for me.' PokerStars ambassador Felix Schneiders is another of the players in the game, and he's no stranger to pitting his wits against elite athletes. He knocked Sergio Aguero out of EPT Monte-Carlo last year, and enjoys that poker allows you to sit down on level footing with anyone else who has a few thousand euros in their pocket - which in this part of the world is a lot of people. 'I just met Chris for the first time, I shook hands with him. To be honest I didn't know who he was because I'm not into boxing, not into football, not into cars, not into anything like that, so I don't know if I have the right topics at hand!' he says. 'But I'm just going to sit down and have some fun with the lads, I'm just going in there without any expectations apart from having fun. 'Aguero, he sat down at my table [last year], I didn't know who he was, busted him. It was a very unfortunate spot for him - he had ace-jack, flopped a jack, I had queens and we got it in. 'After I busted him he shook my hand and I was feeling something is special about this guy, I don't know what. Then I sat down again and my neighbour said to me 'do you know who you just busted?'. I was like 'no I don't' and he went 'check him out on instagram'. He's got like 8 million followers - yeah okay, nice, good to know. That's the beauty of poker. That's what I like about the game.' For Eubank's opponents in Monte-Carlo, the boxer himself is a prime example of sitting down at the felt and finding yourself metres away from the most famous person you've met. But the boxer isn't immune from getting excited about sitting down opposite superstars himself. 'I've played against all types of people all around the world,' he says. 'Very high stakes, very private games, very famous people, and it's amazing that you get to meet and spend time with all these characters. Because in a normal world you would never sit down and play with Bruno Mars, you wouldn't be around the guy. But poker brings all these different characters and personalities into one room, onto one table, and you get to spend time and speak and listen and learn. 'That is actually probably one of the most attractive things to me about poker. It's not even about the money, it's about the people and the experiences and the stories.' Some of them aren't just big names, though - they're talented poker players in their own right. And when asked to name his toughest opponents, he barely misses a beat before replying with a single name: Neymar. 'Most athletes that I've ever played with have been like myself, just action, gamble, but it's not like skill, it's just fun,' he says. 'I've seen Neymar play very skilfully and been very impressed with how he plays when he wants to play well. There are definitely times where he doesn't give a s*** about playing well and is just there to gamble, and those are the best games you can imagine, but he's a very, very good player.' It's no coincidence that plenty of elite athletes make it along to European Poker Tour events - from Aguero to Rafa Nadal to Brazilian legend Ronaldo - and Eubank recognises the mental parallels between his sport and his pastime. 'Boxing and poker are extremely cerebral activities,' he says. 'You have to be extremely sharp, you have to have a very strong mentality to be able to perform at the highest levels of these two worlds. 'A lot of people wouldn't imagine this, but in my opinion boxing is 70 percent, minimum, mental. You've got to be able to deal with the pressure, the pain, the sacrifice, and with dedication. And if you can't deal with all of that it doesn't matter how fast and strong and fit you are, you're not going to win. 'You'll crumble under the pressures of boxing, and it's exactly the same with poker - you can crumble under the pressure. You can go all in with aces, somebody goes all in with kings, they hit a king, you lose your entire stack and 'oh my god i've just lost all this money, what am I going to do?'. 'Some guys, they fall apart, they chase, they tilt off the rest of their stack and it's a disaster. And some guys are able to keep composed, keep the game plan, understand that it's a part of the game and not let it distract you from playing the best poker you can play. They're very mental activities and the people with the strongest will and the most discipline, those are the guys who excel.'
Scottish Sun
08-05-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
‘It was surreal' – Chris Eubank Jr opens up on ‘incredible' moment his dad joined him in shock move for Conor Benn fight
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) CHRIS EUBANK JR has opened up over the 'surreal' and 'incredible' moment his dad joined him for last month's win over rival Conor Benn. Eubank Jr emerged victorious from a bloody clash at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as both men put on a stunning show in front of 67,000 fans. 3 Chris Eubank Jr has opened up the 'surreal' moment he reunited with his father Credit: Reuters 3 Eubank Sr walked his son out ahead of Jr's epic win over Conor Benn Credit: Getty But the biggest shock of the night came before a punch had even been thrown. The build-up to the bout had seen Eubank Jr open up over his strained relationship with dad Eubank Sr. The iconic former boxing champion had previously said he did not approve of his son fighting the offspring of his own 90s rival, Nigel Benn. However, the two Eubanks amazingly put aside their issues moments before the fight as Sr escorted Jr to the ring, sending the crowd wild. And Eubank Jr has now opened up on the incredible moment, admitting that it gave him an extra boost after preparing the fight on his own. The PokerStars ace, who spoke exclusively to SunSport from their EPT Monte Carlo, said: 'Family is everything, you know? And the fact that even the last minute we all came together, it meant the world to me. 'Because I thought I was gonna be alone. I walked into that weigh-in alone in preparation for the fight. 'I saw Conor with all his team and his dad, and I knew in my heart, in my mind, I knew that that wasn't gonna be what I was gonna have on the night. BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS 'So, listen, I'm gonna be alone on the night, I'm gonna be alone now, it's okay. Get used to it, kid. That was what was going on in my head. 'And for that to kind of switch at the last minute it was surreal, it was incredible. 'I was dying inside' - F1 fans stunned after Martin Brundle CONGRATULATES Conor Benn despite boxer losing to Eubank Jr 3 Eubank Jr feels the reunion gave him an extra edge Credit: The Sun 'And yeah, it's just nice to be, it's nice to do what you said you was gonna do. And to do something which the fans will remember for a long, long time. 'That's what it's all about. The fans are the ones that put us in these positions. So to be able to deliver to them, that's all the fighter can really dream for. And we did that.' PokerStars ace Chris Eubank Jr spoke exclusively to SunSport from their EPT Monte Carlo
Yahoo
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Why Boston Rob Mariano Doesn't 'Have a Desire to Go Back' on Competitive Reality TV (Exclusive)
Boston Rob Mariano has competed on , , and Mariano tells PEOPLE that, following , he's "kind of just hanging out" in his TV career The reality star is currently competing in The Irish Poker Open sponsored by PokerStars in Dublin Boston Rob Mariano has solidified himself as one of reality TV's strongest competitors. But now, after one of his signature power moves led to him being eliminated early from The Traitors season 3, Mariano, 49, tells PEOPLE he doesn't have plans to return to television at this time. 'At this point, I'm kind of just hanging out,' he says. 'I don't have a desire to go back and compete in that realm right now. I'm going to take a little break, the kids are off for the summer.' Related: Boston Rob Calls Out the 'Only Exception' to Deal or No Deal Island Winner David Genat's 'Great' Game (Exclusive) However, the six-time Survivor participant promises he'll 'be on your screens again soon.' 'I truly feel like I'm the luckiest person in the world,' Mariano says. 'I didn't expect to be still doing it after 25 years, so never say never. You never know what's going to happen.' The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Mariano currently finds himself using some of the skills and strategy he employs on TV to compete in The Irish Poker Open sponsored by PokerStars, Europe's longest running live poker series, taking place in Dublin. The Amazing Race alum says some of his competitors do know him from TV, 'so I have to always be on guard.' Over in Europe, Mariano says fans recognize him most for Traitors. 'You have that whole Bravo world where I think it introduced a whole new subset of people that watch reality TV to me,' the father of four continues. 'And now I hear a lot of people are going back and watching the old Survivors and the old Amazing Races and stuff. It's kind of cool to see the younger generation seeing all the stuff I've been doing for 25 years.' Poker players from around the world have gotten a taste of that gamesmanship as well throughout the tournament. 'A lot of the same skill set you use in these competition reality shows transfer over to poker,' Mariano explains. 'The No. 1 thing is you have to be aware, and you have to watch the situation, and you have to be able to adapt. Just like Survivor or Traitors or Deal or No Deal Island, there's a combination of skill and luck, so you're not going to be able to control the tournament from beginning to end.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The same even-keeled attitude Mariano uses while forming alliances and cutting deals on reality TV comes in handy at the poker table. 'The key is to be balanced,' he says. 'It's hard to do, especially if you're losing. Generally, people tend to play worse than if they're winning. So constantly being self-aware and knowing that some days are just not going to be your days and tomorrow's another day, you know? Treat it as a game, so it always remains fun.' Related: 'Boston' Rob Mariano Says His Daughters 'Hate' That Their Friends Think He's 'Hot' (Exclusive) Just as Mariano has enjoyed new generations discovering his previous shows, he also doesn't mind that they deemed his early Survivor self 'Hot Rob,' which Ciara Miller brought up at the Traitors reunion last month. 'I think it's funny,' the Massachusetts native says. 'It's funny to see people look at stuff from me from 20 years ago.' Even his wife Amber Brkich and daughters Lucia, 15, Carina, 14, Isabetta, 12, and Adelina, 10, 'love it.' 'They're pretty supportive of the whole thing,' Mariano says. 'We all get a good laugh out of it for sure.' Read the original article on People
