A decades-old boxing rivalry between two households is about for a revival when Conor Benn takes on Chris Eubank Jr in a grudge match that has been over two years within the making.
The British fighters will lastly meet within the ring after their preliminary bout in 2022 was cancelled amid controversial circumstances.
Right here’s all the pieces you have to know concerning the battle:
When is the Eubank Jr vs Benn battle?
The battle is on Saturday, April 26 .
The place is the Eubank Jr vs Benn battle going down?
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, United Kingdom, will host the battle.
What’s the Eubank Jr vs Benn battle begin time?
The primary battle is predicted to start at 18:00 GMT
How can I stream and comply with the battle reside?
Al Jazeera Sport will present reside textual content updates and picture protection of the undercard and major battle from 17:45 GMT.
The battle shall be livestreamed pay-per-view on DAZN.
Who’s on the undercard?
- Anthony Yarde vs Lyndon Arthur – mild heavyweight
- Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna – middleweight
- Chris Billam-Smith vs Brandon Glanton – cruiserweight
- Viddal Riley vs Cheavon Clarke – cruiserweight
What’s the battle purse?
Whereas organisers haven’t revealed the figures, the whole purse is believed to be $23m with a 60-40 cut up of the primary battle tilted in direction of Eubank Jr.
Who’s Chris Eubank Jr?
Son of British boxing nice and former middleweight boxing champion Chris Eubank, Eubank Jr is knowledgeable boxer from Hove, a southern seaside city within the UK.
Since making his skilled debut in 2011, the 35-year-old is the Worldwide Boxing Group’s (IBO) reigning middleweight champion and has additionally beforehand held the IBO’s tremendous middleweight title and the World Boxing Group ‘s interim middleweight title.
Combating with an orthodox stance, Eubank Jr is the top-ranked middleweight boxer within the UK and third on the earth.
Who’s Conor Benn?
Benn, too, has boxing flowing via his blood as his father Nigel Benn was a two-weight champion within the Nineteen Nineties. Based mostly within the East London suburb of Ilford, the 28-year-old turned skilled in 2016.
Whereas Benn has but to lose knowledgeable battle, the boxer has confronted a fair proportion of controversy, having failed a doping check in 2022.
The then-rising star of British boxing was suspended by the UK’s anti-doping company for utilizing clomifene, a fertility drug deemed prohibited. His suspension was in November 2024.
What’s the historical past of the Eubank vs Benn rivalry?
Saturday’s bout is a battle of second-generation contenders, reviving the Benn v Eubank feud through which the rivals’ fathers battled it out in two ferocious contests within the early Nineteen Nineties.
The pair’s first ugly battle occurred in November 1990, which Eubank received by whole knockout within the ninth spherical. A much-anticipated rematch was arrange three years later and resulted in a draw, resulting in each males retaining their respective belts.
Almost 22 years on, the progenies have been meant to face off till Benn’s doping violation delay the battle, which was titled, ‘Born Rivals’.
Regardless of the historical past, the fighters insist they haven’t been urged by their fathers to revive the rivalry. Each senior fighters have been seen making cordial public appearances in recent times.
What’s Eubank Jr’s battle file?
- Bouts: 37
- Wins: 34 – by knockout: 25
- Losses: 3 – by knockout: 1
What’s Benn’s battle file?
- Bouts: 23
- Wins: 23 – by knockout: 14
- Losses: 0
What’s the egg-smashing controversy?
Eubank Jr smashed an egg into Benn’s face throughout a information convention in February.
Because the fighters confronted off on stage, Eubank Jr pulled an egg from his pocket and smashed it towards Benn’s face, sparking a brawl as promoter Eddie Hearn and Benn’s father, Nigel, tried to get at Eubank and his workforce.
Eubank Jr, who was fined $129,000 by the British Boxing Board of Management, had already made a reference to 2 drug checks Benn failed in 2022, which led to a two-year battle with anti-doping authorities.
“Apparently, egg contamination was the explanation for his two failed drug checks. So I contaminated him with an egg,” Eubank Jr posted on X.
He defended his actions two days later at a second media occasion and mentioned: “Did I cross the road? Throughout this entire course of, I believe many traces have been crossed.”
Benn responded on X, saying: “That’s the one shot you’ll land on me … two rounds you’re completed.”
Eubank Sr labelled his son a “shame” for his pre-fight antics.
Why will each boxers modify their weights for the battle?
Because the bout shall be fought at middleweight – 160lbs (71.5kg) – Benn should transfer up from his welterweight division – 147lbs (66kg).
In the meantime, Eubank Jr fights at middleweight, however for the reason that boxers can’t weigh greater than 170lbs (77kg) on battle evening, he should drop from his 180lbs (81kg).
What has Eubank Jr mentioned concerning the battle?
However Eubank Jr has mentioned he’ll battle with the precision of a “matador” and deal with Benn like a “bull” and has no intention of backing down.
“This battle isn’t about measurement or weight, it’s about ability and dedication, it’s about experience and all of these areas I excel in. I’ve a few years of expertise over Conor Benn, and that would be the deciding issue on the evening,” he mentioned on Tuesday.
“I’m an entire fighter. I’ve been doing this for thus lengthy now, I’ve forgotten extra issues than he even is aware of, and that may present on the evening.
“The process shall be parliamentary, all the pieces will go the best way I would like it to go, I shall be like a matador within the ring, and Conor Benn would be the bull.”
What has Benn mentioned concerning the battle?
Benn will deal with the battle as one other alternative to proceed his unbeaten run.
“It’s all the time private. Folks say it’s enterprise. This isn’t enterprise, it by no means is,” he mentioned within the media occasions main as much as the battle.
“If you happen to’re attempting to place your palms on me and render me unconscious, then it’s not enterprise, and that is private.”
Why does Eubank Sr need the battle cancelled?
The previous champion has distanced himself from the battle propped on the legacy of his rivalry with Benn senior.
Eubank believes the battle will put his son’s life in danger, particularly as he should transfer down within the weight division.
“My son most likely walks round at round 180lb [81.6kg], and he has to boil himself all the way down to 160lb [71.5kg],” he mentioned in an interview with British tabloid The Solar final week.
“Folks don’t perceive what it means for Junior to get all the way down to 160lb, at his age. They don’t perceive the drying out.
“I do know what that appears like. I do know concerning the dehydration and the injury it does to fighters.”
The 58-year-old mentioned it was “completely loopy” that his son agreed to the battle, which is touted to revive the decades-old rivalry.