Chris Eubank Jr emerged victorious against Conor Benn on Saturday night, triumphing by unanimous decision after a fiercely contested bout that more than lived up to its billing.
Following months of controversy, delays, and dramatic build-up, the sons of boxing legends Chris Eubank Snr and Nigel Benn finally reignited their families’ rivalry with a brutal 12-round contest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
In the end, it was the 35-year-old Eubank Jr — who had endured a difficult weight cut to 160lbs and a £375,000 fine after initially missing the mark — who claimed victory with all three judges scoring it 116-112 in his favour.
Despite the margin, the bout was far closer than the scorecards suggested. Both men traded blows with reckless abandon in the closing stages, utterly spent but desperately seeking a knockout or a decisive impression on the judges.
While Eubank Jr celebrated, Conor Benn’s camp expressed frustration. Promoter Eddie Hearn insisted: “I thought he could have won the fight. Conor became the people’s champion tonight,” hinting strongly at a potential rematch.
The historic showdown came 32 years after Chris Eubank Snr and Nigel Benn’s second iconic encounter in the 1990s, and fittingly, both fathers were present at ringside. Eubank Snr’s arrival, midway through the undercard fight between Liam Smith and Aaron McKenna, drew gasps from the Tottenham crowd.
Draped in a striking brown leather jacket, Eubank Snr seized the opportunity to respond to jibes about his relationship with his son. “I love my son,” he said pointedly, addressing Conor Benn’s previous comments.
The Eubank camp scored an early minor victory when they blocked former world champion Billy Joe Saunders from inspecting Eubank Jr’s hand wraps — a role he had been assigned by Matchroom Promotions.
A heated exchange between Saunders and Eubank’s manager, Elliott ‘Napper’ Amoakoh, was captured by cameras, adding yet more theatre to a night that teetered on the edge of chaos.
However, once the bell rang, it was the boxing that rightly took centre stage.
Benn began the fight explosively, launching heavy, looping punches while Eubank Jr maintained composure, working behind a sharp jab and short hooks.
Though Benn likely edged the early rounds through sheer aggression, Eubank grew increasingly comfortable, using his size and experience to pressure his younger opponent.
By the middle rounds, Eubank’s grin during clinches signalled his rising confidence. A cut above his right eye, caused by a clash of heads, added urgency to his work, while Benn continued to threaten with dangerous bursts.
In the 10th round, Benn caught Eubank clean with a powerful right hand as signs of fatigue set in for the older fighter. Yet Eubank, drawing on all his experience, found the reserves to finish strongly, landing the more telling blows in a raucous final round.
Speaking after the fight, Eubank Jr reflected: “I knew I was capable of that. I just needed someone to bring it out of me — and I didn’t expect it to be him. I pushed through. I’m proud to have upheld the family name.” Eubank Jr later attended hospital for precautionary checks but was said to be in good spirits.
The Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn fight may not have ended in a knockout, but it certainly delivered a night to remember for British boxing, one worthy of the legacy of their famous fathers.
