The long-awaited clash between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn is finally set to take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26.
The all-British showdown has been years in the making, with tensions between the two fighters stemming not just from their own personal animosity, but also from the legacy of their famous fathers.
The Eubank vs Benn odds are in the former’s favour, but with bad blood, history and pride all on the line, let’s take a look at the origins and evolution of this intense rivalry that is set to unfold in London later this month.
A rivalry forged in legacy
The Eubank and Benn names are synonymous with one of the most iconic rivalries in British boxing history.
Chris Eubank Snr and Nigel Benn, the fathers of these two fighters, faced each other twice in the early 1990s in two of the biggest domestic fights of that era.
Their first encounter at the start of the decade saw Eubank Snr stop Benn in the ninth round to win the WBO middleweight title.
Their controversial draw three years later, where the judges were split on the outcome despite many pundits and fans alike feeling Benn had done enough to win, left unfinished business between them.
Fast-forward three decades, and their sons are continuing the family feud inside the squared circle, with tensions boiling over in press conferences before they’ve even shared the ring.
The 2022 postponement
Eubank Jr and Benn were originally set to settle the scores at the O2 Arena in London in October 2022, with the fight dubbed ‘born rivals’ in a nod to their father’s history.
However, just days before the bout, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) cancelled the event after Benn tested positive for the banned substance clomifene.
Despite claiming it was due to contamination, the failed test and subsequent ban from the sport has cast a shadow over Benn’s career, and Eubank Jr has taken every opportunity to mock his rival.
War of words and heated exchanges
Over the last few years, Benn and Eubank Jr have been engaged in a relentless war of words, trading insults and questioning each other’s abilities and whether the other has stepped out of their father’s shadows.
Their interactions are often fiery, and the animosity between both fighters has only increased in the build-up to this fight—making their upcoming clash even more compelling for fans of the popular combat sport.
Things turned particularly ugly at one of the first press conferences for the fight, as Eubank Jr slapped Benn across the face with an egg during the obligatory head-to-head.
That resulted in Eubank Jr. being fined a costly £100,000 by the BBBofC, and the pair had to be held back again shortly after in a sit-down interview with Piers Morgan—in which Eubank Jr. appeared to threaten Benn Snr before storming out.
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This isn’t your typical boxing feud to build hype and sell tickets, it’s a real hatred that will be settled in the ring later this month.
While Eubank Jr is the slight favourite in the boxing odds, Benn’s unbeaten record and relentless aggression make him a dangerous opponent.
