In what could be the biggest all-British boxing clash of the year, Chris Eubank Jr will be fighting Connor Benn on October 8, 2022. This is a special fight for British boxing fans, as Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr, the fathers of the two fighters, were rivals 30 years ago. Now, their sons will fight in a catchweight battle, with Connor Benn moving up in weight to face Eubank Jr.
Since the two boxers have come onto the scene, many fans have discussed the possibility of them meeting one day. The two fights between their fathers are legendary and were some of the biggest fights in the UK at the time. While they may not have the same star power as their fathers, it’s still going to be a huge event for UK fans.
The fight is touted to take place at the London O2 Arena and will likely be DAZN’s first boxing pay-per-view in the UK. At the moment, it’s unclear where it will be available to watch in the US, but it’s likely to be a free-to-air event due to the time zone difference. Sportsbooks haven’t started offering odds yet, but it’s likely that it will be close between them. Eubank has more experience and is the heavier fighter, so he’s likely to be the favourite. You can also find an NJ online casino promo code to take advantage of betting offers before the fight.
Who’s Fighting?
Benn has 21 wins and zero defeats, with 14 wins coming by way of knockout. Just like his father, he’s gained a reputation as a power puncher and is nicknamed the destroyer due to his heavy hands. He currently fights at 147lbs but will be going up to 156 to take on Eubank Jr. As the naturally smaller fighter, he might be coming in at a disadvantage, but he’s not worried.
“I spar middleweights in my gym, I like fighting bigger guys, I fancy my chances, I have sparred cruiserweights before. They come in the gym thinking they can impose their weight on you, and then I let 2-3-4 punches go, and they don’t want to know.”
Meanwhile, Eubank Jr has more experience, with 32 wins and 2 losses. His losses came to two high-level opponents, George Groves and Bill Joe Saunders, but they do show that he’s a level below the world level. Eubank will still be the best boxer that Benn has faced though, making him a big test for his opponent. Eubank normally fights at 168lbs, so the 156lbs will be the lightest of his career.
When asked about the possibility of fighting Benn, Eubank had the following to say. “What fight fan wouldn’t want to see it? Two legends, their sons fighting each other, and they’re both doing big things in the boxing world."
The History of the Fight
Benn and Eubank Sr were major rivals who both fought at middleweight and super-middleweight between 1985 and 1997. They were both popular with fans and were soon calling each other out, leading to their first fight in 1990. Benn put his WBO middleweight title on the line, and both men gave everything they had to win.
Although Eubank Sr bit his tongue during the fight, leading to a severe gash that caused heavy bleeding, he managed to outwork his rival and stopped him in the ninth round with just five seconds left. Later, both boxers would move up to super-middleweight, winning the WBO and WBC belts between them and setting up the rematch.
The rematch wasn’t on the same level of brutality as the first, but it was still an exciting watch for the 42,000 fans in the arena and the millions watching from at home. In the end, it was declared a draw, and although a rematch was proposed, it never materialised. Now, more than thirty years on from their first fight, their sons will take up the rivalry and enter the ring.