This Saturday, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the UK, the long-awaited showdown between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will take place. The derby between the sons of two legendary fighters who lit up the British boxing scene between the late ’80s and early ’90s will unfold in front of a massive crowd and generate substantial revenue, with both men set to earn purses of around £7.5 million each. The event will be broadcast in Italy on DAZN via PPV at a cost of €24.99, with coverage starting at 6:00 p.m.
Chris Eubank Jr: an “instinctive” fighter who didn’t commit
Chris Eubank Jr has always been an instinctive fighter in the ring. Rather than following a set game plan or relying on carefully drilled combinations, the British boxer prefers to improvise, trusting his exceptional athleticism. As a result, many of his movements appear unconventional and hardly appealing to boxing purists.
Nevertheless, in the early stages of his career, Eubank’s style proved effective—especially against opponents who stood in front of him, making him look like a punching machine. However, when he faced slick, elusive fighters like Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves, his limitations were exposed. His footwork, in particular, was shown to be subpar, making him look awkward and clumsy when trying to close the distance on a moving target.
Unfortunately, Eubank’s career has essentially stalled since his move from super middleweight to middleweight: over the past five years, he has stayed away from the big stage, settling for lesser fights and squandering the opportunities presented by a weight division that, now more than ever, lacks depth and talent.
Conor Benn: a destined star thanks to his last name
Many suspected from the very start of his professional journey that Conor Benn was destined to fight in a match like the one we’ll see on Saturday. The chance to bring the names Eubank and Benn back onto the same fight poster more than two decades after the last time was too good for British promoters to pass up. All Conor had to do to earn the payday of a lifetime was avoid missteps and generate buzz around his name.
In this task, he had plenty of help—starting with his shrewd promoter Eddie Hearn, who carefully handpicked Benn’s opponents, especially after French journeyman Cedrick Peynaud dropped him twice in the first round in 2017, exposing his defensive flaws and forcing him into a desperate comeback. Even when it was time to step up in class, Benn was matched against fighters well past their prime.
Nonetheless, in 2022, Benn tested positive for clomiphene, a banned substance, in two voluntary VADA drug tests. This led to a provisional suspension by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) and the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC), which was later lifted by the independent National Anti-Doping Panel (NADP) in November 2024.
What will happen? Boxe Punch’s prediction!
As we already explained (click here to read the article), despite the excitement surrounding it, this bout promises to be rather mediocre in terms of pure boxing quality compared to the sport’s global elite. To break down how the fight might play out, we need to reiterate a few key points.
If Eubank Jr enters the ring in top physical condition and at full strength, he shouldn’t have much trouble winning. Chris will be right at home against a relentless attacker like Benn and will be able to use his skills in close-range exchanges to punish the wild, aggressive style of his opponent and exploit the defensive gaps he so often leaves open.
This seems even more likely considering Benn’s recent performances. Since his 2022 suspension—which barred him from fighting on British soil—he’s had two fights in the U.S. without particularly impressing. In both cases, he appeared to lack the power he once had. Whether this is due to the jump from welterweight to super welterweight or a consequence of no longer using banned substances, it’s a major concern.
In the ring, we’ll see a former super middleweight—who’s been fighting at middleweight for five years to impose his physicality—take on a former welterweight who moved up to secure the fight (and the payday) of a lifetime. The physical difference between the two is expected to be significant, and the clash of styles—which is likely to turn the match into an all-out brawl—will only magnify that disparity.
So what’s the wild card that could flip the script? It’s called the “rehydration clause.” Contractually, Chris Eubank Jr cannot gain more than ten pounds between the weigh-in and the morning of the fight without forfeiting a significant portion of his purse. This restriction could weaken him and diminish his performance.
If that happens, holding off the non-stop pressure of someone like Benn—who can maintain a frenetic pace for all twelve rounds—might become a far more daunting task, opening the door to a range of possible outcomes.
Hoping to witness a battle between two fighters at their very best, I’ll go ahead and make my usual prediction assuming that the favorite enters the ring strong enough to execute his game plan. I predict a win for Chris Eubank Jr by KO in the final third of the fight.