Boxing: Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn agree to September rematch

Story By: Citisports

Chris Eubank Jr will fight fellow Briton Conor Benn in a rematch in London on 20 September.

Eubank beat Benn by unanimous decision after a thrilling bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April, though the venue for their second meeting has yet to be confirmed.

“Spurs is contracted – it’s a fantastic stadium and it worked extremely well the first time,” Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn told Ring magazine.

- Advertisement -

“Obviously, it was sold out, and this fight’s even bigger, so you could possibly look at Wembley to increase the capacity.”

The April fight took place 35 years after their legendary fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, first fought, and garnered huge attention despite no title being on the line.

All three judges scored it 116-112 in favour of Eubank, who extended his record to 35 wins in 38 fights.

- Advertisement -

Chris Eubank Jr looks on with a cut to his eye during the Middleweight fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

“Experience gained, lessons learned,” said Benn in a post on social media after September’s fight was confirmed.

There had been a controversial and at times chaotic build-up to their first fight, fuelled by the intense rivalry between their fathers.

Chris Eubank Jr punches Conor Benn during the Middleweight fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

The pair were scheduled to face each other in 2022 but the fight was cancelled because Benn failed a drugs test.

Benn denied intentional doping and was cleared to fight by anti-doping authorities two years later.

- Advertisement -

But at an extraordinary media conference in February, Eubank slapped Benn across the face with an egg during a head-to-head, with the pair exchanging foul-mouthed insults throughout.

Sports league merchandise
Chris Eubank Jr slaps Connor Benn with an egg Photo Courtesy: Getty Images

 

The stunt was an apparent reference to an independent report that said the failed drugs test could have been caused by a “highly elevated consumption” of eggs. Eubank was fined £100,000 for the slap.

The day before the fight, Eubank was fined £375,000 for missing weight at the first weigh-in.

Eubank is the bigger of the two men and normally fights two weight classes above Benn, who is a natural welterweight.

Chris Eubank Jr looks on from his corner between rounds during the Middleweight fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

The 35-year-old is to appear before the British Boxing Board of Control in July over reports he used a sauna to cut weight, which is against its rules.

On the day of the fight, Eubank arrived at the stadium with his father by his side, despite the pair having apparently been estranged for a number of years.

Chris Eubank Jr celebrates with Chris Eubank, Former Professional Boxer and Father to Chris Eubank Jr, after victory against Conor Benn in the Middleweight fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)

Eubank Sr beat Nigel Benn in 1990 before a contentious draw three years later.

Share This Article
Leave a Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *