Written by Amy Tuscher
📷- @daznboxing
Last night in front of a packed out crowd at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Conor Benn delivered a career-defining performance to decisively defeat Chris Eubank Jr. by unanimous decision, finally ending one of British boxing's most enduring generational rivalries.
The victory was a comprehensive, masterclass display of boxing skill and discipline, avenging Benn's only professional loss from seven months prior and securing a historic win for the Benn family against their greatest rivals.
The judges' scorecards told the story of what was a one-sided affair: 119-107, 118-108, and 116-110, with the final verdict being met with applause from Eubank Jr. himself.
"The Destroyer," Benn, fighting up two weight divisions for familial revenge, was everything he wasn't in the first fight earlier on this year—composed, measured, and tactically brilliant, controlling the ring and using a varied jab to open up a clear early lead.
The icing on the cake came in the dramatic final minute of the 12th round. Benn, sensing the finish, exploded with a shuddering combination that sent a visibly drained Eubank Jr. to the canvas not once, but twice! Only the final bell prevented a stoppage, sparing Eubank Jr. from the humiliation of being knocked out by his rival.
Benn is ready for titles!
Now this historic saga is over, for Conor Benn (now 24-1, 14 KOs), the path forward is clear and filled with world title ambition. His victory last night, which was achieved at a significantly higher weight class, catapults his stock to an all-time high, proving he can box with elite-level composure and not just raw aggression.
Benn was emphatic in his post-fight comments, immediately shutting down any talk of a trilogy and declaring the "Benn-Eubank saga is over." His priority is now a return to his natural welterweight (147 lbs) division, where he has long been a top contender.
Promoter Eddie Hearn quickly put Benn in line for a title challenge. The primary target is likely the WBC Welterweight Champion, Mario Barrios. Benn also called out other top American fighters, indicating he is ready for the biggest names in the division.
The victory for Conor last night brings to close a huge chapter in his life. After a tumultuous period in his career following his 2022 doping tests, this dominant and highly publicised win provides the ultimate platform for him to re-establish himself as a legitimate world-level contender and put the controversies of the past behind him.
Benn’s immediate future is about securing the gold his career has always promised.
Where does Eubank Jr go from here?
For Chris Eubank Jr now 36 years old, the immediate future is shrouded in uncertainty, even before his loss last night. This was a flat, lethargic performance from a fighter who looked drained and unable to cope with the younger, sharper Benn.
Eubank Jr following the defeat, offered a cryptic post-fight comment, alluding to "things I’ve been dealing with over the past couple of months" and stating he needs to "go away and deal with some of the things."
Combined with a punishing weight cut to the agreed middleweight limit (and a 170-pound rehydration clause), it suggests a need to step away and re-evaluate what is next for Jr.
At 36, having secured the biggest paydays of his career in this duology, and with the recent news of becoming a father to twins, the question of retirement will inevitably loom large. The manner of his loss—slow, exhausted and thoroughly beaten—suggests that his best days may be behind him.
Prior to the Benn rematch, Eubank Jr. often spoke of a desire for a dream bout at super-middleweight (168 lbs) against names like Canelo Alvarez or Terence Crawford. However, the one-sided nature of this loss makes such a high-profile fight highly unlikely in the short term. A more logical next step, if he continues, would be a tune-up fight at his preferred middleweight or super-middleweight to gauge his remaining competitive fire.
Eubank Jr. leaves the ring 1-1 in the family feud, but this defeat has undoubtedly left him at a crossroads, facing his most serious professional decision yet - what next?
Add comment
Comments