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The Independent
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
The key change Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn must make to win rematch
There will be a movie quality to the rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn on 20 September. The inevitable, blockbuster sequel. Nobody really knows how many Rocky films have been mentioned and then not made. And nobody cares, we just want the action from the ones that did happen. The fierce family rivalry between the Benns and the Eubanks – our modern feudal knights – is the same. Benn and Eubank Jr stepped free of any shadows cast by their iconic fathers when they met for the first time in April. The fight between the sons was so shockingly good, it just had to happen again. The narrative, to use the movie word, is just too spectacular. So far, the dads have met twice, the sons have met once, and they have just agreed to fight again. This time, it's personal. In addition to the fights that have taken place, dozens of other dates, weights and venues have collapsed and vanished. This rematch was made quickly and that is a good thing; it feels like part two of a trilogy. The dads both wanted that, trust me. The sons will get what the dads wanted and that is perfect. This fight will be about the sons, the two men in the ring. The weight issue will not be a factor, the turbulent history of the dads will not be the story and, as we found out in the first brutal affair, they both have the heart and stamina to deliver a classic. As I said, this time it really is personal. There will be no fairy tale arrival on the night by one of the absent dads; the arrival, two hours before the first bell, of Eubank Sr led to a deafening roar from the crowd of 66,000. This fight will be strictly business, no hype – none needed. Back in April, there were so many storylines it was hard to stay on top of the main story, and that was the fight. The on and off backdrop was lost behind the will he be there or not story. Then there were the drug tests, the claims, the clears and the anger. Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime. See Schedule ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent. There was the weight issue, saunas were mentioned, agony was imagined. By the time the lights had dimmed and 66,000 had stopped howling long enough for the bell to be heard, nobody was prepared for the fight that unfolded. By the end of about round six, the so-called experts were burying their heads. In fairness, nobody had seen Benn fight like that, and nobody was sure Eubank Jr would want to fight like that. It was a revelation; it was also magnificent and brave. At the end, all three judges went for Eubank Jr with identical scores of 116-112 – that means eight rounds to four. There were no complaints, very little celebrating and not even a long period of mourning; it's possible that the fight's brutality was a shock to both of the boxers. A rematch was talked about in the ring on the night, that dialogue continued and on Sunday night the fight was made official for 20 September. They have both claimed they will be better fighters going forward and they are probably right. It was the type of fight that makes both the winner and the loser better boxers. It was also the type of fight to make both men smarter and that could be the decisive factor when the first bell sounds in September. Who has learned the most? It is unlikely that heart and guts and desire will be enough this time. The man with the sharpest plan will win; both claim they can be better, and both will have to be better. It is possible that Benn, who is seven years younger, will start as a tiny favourite; he is convinced that he now knows enough to win a difficult fight against his ancient nemesis. Eubank, remember, had fought 37 times before he met Benn. In boxing, youth is an advantage only when the older and more experienced man is coming to an end; youth and inexperience against a quality and seasoned boxer are hazards. In the first fight, Benn was naive at times – there will be no mistakes this time, no reliance on his engine, his tank, his power. Eubank Jr will enter the ring knowing just how strong and brave Benn is; he found out in the first fight that he was not boxing a kid with just a famous name. It was the mutual discoveries in the classic 12 rounder in April that made it so thrilling and savage. The last round, which was like a scene from several fights in the Rocky franchise, was exceptional. In most rematches, one of the boxers is convinced that he had a bad first fight, convinced that he can do so much more. Even a fighter in victory can be convinced that the next time it will be easy. Well, both Eubank and Benn know they pushed each other to their own limits – a repeat of that in September might not be wise. The rematch will be smarter, and it could even be better.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn rematch date and venue confirmed by Eddie Hearn
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are set to reignite their family feud with a rematch in September at an undisclosed London venue. Eubank Jr emerged victorious by unanimous decision following their intense battle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April. Advertisement Their initial clash evoked the legendary rivalry of their fathers, Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, who first traded blows 35 years ago. READ MORE: Aston Villa one step closer to cleaning up the transfer mess which contributed to PSR issue READ MORE: Birmingham City 'launch ambitious 11th hour transfer swoop' for Jose Mourinho's defender The sons' April showdown met all expectations, echoing the fiery encounters between their fathers three decades prior. While Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is a contender for hosting the rematch, Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has hinted that Wembley could be in the running due to the fight's escalated profile. Advertisement Speaking to Ring magazine, Hearn said: "Spurs is contracted – it's a fantastic stadium and it worked extremely well the first time." He added: "Obviously, it was sold out and this fight's even bigger, so you could possibly look at Wembley to increase the capacity." Details regarding the weight limit for the rematch remain unconfirmed, amidst criticism from Eubank Sr towards the British Boxing Board of Control and Matchroom for sanctioning the first fight at the middleweight limit of 160lbs. Eubank Sr has expressed concern over his son's health, stating he was dangerously dehydrated fighting at a weight class below his usual 175lbs. Conversely, Benn had not previously fought above the super-welterweight limit of 154lbs before their initial encounter. Advertisement Chris Eubank Sr lambasted the authorities on his YouTube channel, saying: "If the Boxing Board of Control do not do what they are supposed to do, which is to block fights from happening which do not abide by the weights and the rules. You are baboons!". The bout was initially due to take place in October 2022 but was delayed after Benn tested positive for the banned substance comifene, leading to his suspension. However, Benn denied intentionally doping, and his suspension was lifted after being cleared by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP). An independent report attributed Benn's failed test to a possible "highly elevated consumption" of eggs, which led to Eubank hitting Benn with an egg during a heated press conference.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Chris Eubank Jr. vs. Conor Benn 2 date official; Devin Haney vs. Brian Norman Jr. welterweight title fight set
Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn are set to try to do the impossible. The two rivals will attempt to better their first contest, which is the frontrunner for 2025's Fight of the Year, when they rematch Sept. 20 at a venue to be determined in London, Turki Alalshikh confirmed Sunday afternoon. Advertisement The rematch was originally touted for Sept. 27, but Premier League fixtures that were released earlier this month ruled out Tottenham Hotspur Stadium's availability to host the fight. Wembley Stadium is also booked on Sept. 27, but both venues are free on September 20. Eubank (35-3, 25 KOs) edged Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) in a 12-round middleweight thriller in front of a 67,484 sell-out crowd at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this past April. It was a fight for the ages, with the sons of British boxing legends Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr. going toe-to-toe for 36 minutes. Although Eubank was a deserved winner, some felt the 116-112 scores handed in by all three judges were an unfair representation of Benn's efforts. The buildup, which dates back to the pair's first scheduled fight three years ago, was sensational. From failed drug tests to the notorious egg-slap at the launch press conference to Eubank Sr.'s shock arrival at the venue hours before the fight — despite his insistence that he wouldn't partake in the circus — the hype was built to the maximum, and the fight ultimately delivered on all its promises. It was the perfect storm. Eubank Jr. missed the 160-pound middleweight limit for the first bout by 0.05 pounds and was thus fined $500,000 for the infraction. Some voiced disapproval of the fight being agreed at 160 pounds with a 10-pound rehydration clause, citing concerns over Eubank's health. The rematch, however, will be contested with the same weight stipulations as the first fight. Advertisement Eubank released a series of videos on his social media on the day before the fight, alluding to the use of a sauna to cut weight. The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) does not allow fighters to use a sauna to dehydrate, and so Eubank will also need to appear before the BBBofC in July to explain his alleged use of a sauna. Brian Norman Jr. vs. Devin Haney set for November In other boxing news, Brian Norman Jr. will defend his WBO welterweight title against two-division world champion Devin Haney on a date to be confirmed in November in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Alalshikh also confirmed on Sunday. Advertisement Norman Jr. (28-0, 22 KOs) won the WBO interim championship with a 10th-round upset KO win over Giovani Santillan in May 2024. Following Terence Crawford's move to super welterweight, Norman was upgraded to full champion and has since made two successful defenses of his belt. Earlier this month, Norman scored a brutal fifth-round KO of Japan's Jin Sasaki. Sasaki reportedly couldn't remember anything that happened in the fight or up to six weeks before the bout after his savage loss at the hands of the 24-year-old champion. Haney (32-0, 15 KOs) previously held the undisputed lightweight title between 2022 and 2023 in a run that included wins over Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr. In December 2023, Haney moved up to super lightweight and dominated Regis Prograis to capture the WBC title. Haney was floored three times in a stunning loss to Ryan Garcia in April 2024, but Garcia's positive test for the banned substance ostarine was revealed after the fight, which ultimately resulted in Haney's loss being overturned to a no contest. "The Dream" ended a 12-month layoff this past May with a unanimous decision victory over Jose Ramirez in an uninspiring performance. Garcia and Haney were supposed to rematch in October, but on the same night Haney defeated Ramirez, Garcia was upset by Rolando "Rolly" Romero. Haney then attempted to make a fight with the WBO super lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez, however negotiations failed between the pair. So now, he will look to become a three-division champion against Norman Jr. later this year.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
Chris Eubank Jnr vs Conor Benn rematch is CONFIRMED - as bitter rivals get set to renew rivalry after controversial first fight
The rematch between Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn has now been confirmed. In the original bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April, Eubank Jnr won via unanimous decision. The pair will face each other again on September 2, with the venue yet to be decided. Their fathers Chris Snr and Nigel Benn clashed twice in high-profile fights in the 1990s. As reported by The Independent, it is possible that the rematch between Eubank Jnr and Benn could be held at Tottenham's stadium again. However, there is also a possibility that it could be staged at Wembley Stadium. Last month Eubank Jnr discussed his reunion with his estranged father on the night of his fight against Benn. Speaking on the Diary of a CEO podcast, Eubank Jnr explained: 'On the subject of my father, regardless of what he said about me and about the fight, he was there when it mattered the most. 'And that means everything. I didn't know he was going to come. He called me. He texts me the day before the fight, the night before the fight. He said 'call me when you see this.' 'So, I saw the text and I thought you know what? We are less than a day away.... this is the night before the biggest fight of my life. 'A couple of hours go by, maybe nine, ten o'clock, I'm like 'you know what, I've been through so much s*** these last two months, what more could possibly be thrown at me?' At the end of the day, he's my old man. He's text me, I'm going to hear him out. 'So, I call him. I was about to go to sleep and I thought 'I'll call him.' As soon as he picked the phone up, there was a tone in his voice that I hadn't heard for years. It was a tone of happiness, likeness, joy, 'hey, how you doing son? What's going on? How're you feeling?' 'I said 'how am I feeling? When have you worried about how I'm feeling? I'm good dad, everything is cool. Just getting ready to go to sleep. Got a big day tomorrow.' He said 'yeah, I know you've got a big day tomorrow and I want to be there for you.''
The Guardian
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Guardian
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will meet for September rematch in London
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will meet again in a rematch in September at a yet-to-be-named venue in London. Eubank Jr was given the verdict by unanimous decision after their thrilling contest at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April. The bout rekindled memories of their fathers' fierce rivalry, taking place 35 years after Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn had first fought. The encounter between the two sons lived up to all expectation after the explosive nature of their fathers' original middleweight contest, which itself was followed by a rematch in 1993. Tottenham's stadium has been touted again to host the event, but the Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, has suggested Wembley as a possibility. Hearn told the Ring magazine: 'Spurs is contracted – it's a fantastic stadium and it worked extremely well the first time. Sign up to The Recap The best of our sports journalism from the past seven days and a heads-up on the weekend's action after newsletter promotion 'Obviously, it was sold out and this fight's even bigger, so you could possibly look at Wembley to increase the capacity.'
