Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will meet in the boxing ring on April 26, 2024, in a highly awaited showdown. This is a very important fight. More than just the fighters’ remarkable records, their familial legacies both return to the squared circle to make this one feel particularly personal. Reigning WBO middleweight champion Eubank Jr is the son of world boxing legend Chris Eubank. Benn steps into the spotlight like his father — two-weight world champion Nigel Benn — who ruled the boxing world in the 1990s. This fight will surely be explosive! In doing so, both fighters look to honor and extend their family legacies while creating their own identity in the sport.
The British boxer, Chris Eubank Jr., 35, steps into the ring on Saturday night as the experienced, savvy International Boxing Organization (IBO) middleweight champion. He can claim a professional record of 34-3 in 37 pro fights. In the other corner, 28-year-old Conor Benn, known as “The Destroyer,” has never lost, running up a career record of 23-0 with 15 knockouts. In next week’s bout, Eubank Jr. will be coming down from 180lbs to 170lbs. For his part, Benn will go up from welterweight at 147 pounds to middleweight at 160 pounds.
What really has fans excited for this matchup is the longstanding history of animosity between their dads. In November 1990, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn fought in a classic confrontation. The fight ended in a fifteen round total knockout in the ninth round. The legacy of their fathers weighs heavy on both in this matchup. Both fighters have to contend with its weight as they get ready to meet in the octagon.
Rivalry Ignites Tensions
The build-up to their anticipated fight hasn’t escaped the controversy, either. In February, Eubank Jr. made headlines at a news conference when he cracked an egg in Benn’s face, adding to the rivalry between the two fighters that extended beyond their fight date.
Eubank Jr’s comments show just how confident he is going into the fight. “This fight isn’t about size or weight, it’s about skill and dedication, it’s about expertise and all of those areas I excel in,” he stated. He further emphasized his experience, saying, “I have many years of experience over Conor Benn, and that will be the deciding factor on the night.”
Street life in a sport like boxing is incredibly tense. Eubank Jr remarked on the personal nature of this rivalry, saying, “Did I cross the line? During this whole process, I think many lines have been crossed.” His bold actions only serve to highlight the intense animosity that exists between the two pugilists. As they prepare, one thing is certain—this night will change everything.
Benn expresses the personal stakes of the game. “It’s always personal. People say it’s business. This is not business; it never is.” He expressed his focus on defeating Eubank Jr, stating confidently, “That’s the only shot you’ll land on me … two rounds you are finished.”
Controversial Backgrounds
Each fighter enters this bout with plenty of controversy to go around. Conor Benn faced scrutiny after failing a doping test in 2022, which raised questions about his integrity as a fighter. At the same time, Chris Eubank Jr was suspended over clomifene, a banned fertility drug by the UK’s sporting anti-doping authority. These frays have only added to the complexity of their rivalry. As these two athletes get ready to meet in the ring, they are both under more conspicuous examination.
Nonetheless, both fighters have vastly different goals and are very eager to do their jobs inside the squared circle. To those who think Benn’s undefeated record will derail his fortune, Eubank Jr has reassured fans that he knows how to handle those distractions and obstacles. “I’m a complete fighter. I’ve been doing this for so long now. I’ve forgotten more things than he even knows, and that will show on the night,” he asserted.
Both combatants are facing off in the biggest bout of their professional lives. Because they don’t just know what they have to lose — they know how much more is at stake than their records. The overall purse for this bout is rumored to be around $23 million, with an astounding 60-40 cut in favor of Eubank Jr. This monetary bonus is a powerful new motivator for each combatant as they prepare to enter the Octagon.
