Chris Eubank Jr defeated Conor Benn by unanimous decision in a thrilling contest at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, securing victory in one of Britain’s most heated boxing rivalries.
Eubank, 35, edged the encounter on all three scorecards, with judges scoring it 116-112 after 12 intense rounds. The fight extended the Eubank-Benn family feud, which first began when Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn clashed in the early 1990s.
Both fighters displayed aggression from the outset, taking centre ring and exchanging heavy blows. Although neither managed a decisive finish, Eubank’s experience ultimately told in the later rounds.
"I knew I could do that, I just needed someone to bring that out of me," Eubank said post-fight. His father, Eubank Sr, made a surprise appearance at the venue, walking out with his son despite reported estrangement between the pair.
"I'm happy to have this man back with me. We upheld the family name," Eubank Jr added.
The win moves Eubank’s professional record to 35 wins from 38 fights, while Benn, 28, suffered his first defeat in 24 outings.
"I felt like it was a close fight. I'm not going to say I should have won that - I've got to watch it back," Benn said.
The bout, set against a backdrop of controversy including Benn’s failed drug tests in 2022, captivated the 65,000-strong crowd. Jeers accompanied Benn’s ring walk alongside his father, Nigel Benn, while Eubank entered with his father to the strains of Tina Turner’s 'Simply the Best.'
In an emotional moment, Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn embraced before the opening bell, acknowledging their historic rivalry.
Inside the ring, Benn started aggressively, stunning Eubank with a left hook in the third round. Eubank responded with his trademark uppercuts and gradually clawed his way back, despite signs of fatigue linked to a rehydration clause imposed in the contract.
Celebrity attendees including Idris Elba, Gordon Ramsay, Marcus Rashford, and Declan Rice watched as the contest ebbed and flowed. Eubank, cut above his right eye after a clash of heads, was joined by his father in the corner during the latter stages.
A late surge from Eubank in the 12th round sealed the victory. A brief touch of gloves between the fighters before the final bell hinted at a growing respect after years of animosity.
Following a spectacle filled with action and drama, talks of a rematch later this year are already underway, with both boxers having signed a two-fight deal.
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