Everything suggests that the bout between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn will be a major financial success. Expectations for the fight, set for April 26, 2025, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the UK, are already sky-high, fueled in recent days by Eubank’s shocking act of slapping his rival during a face-to-face and breaking an egg on his face. None of this contradicts the fact that, by all means, this is an absolutely mediocre fight, at least compared to boxing’s elite level.
If the media attention generated by a boxing match were always directly proportional to its quality, we would have to conclude that the highly talked-about clash between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson, which took place last November at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, was an extraordinary fight.
And yet, what we actually witnessed was a 58-year-old man with a bandaged knee running out of breath after a round and a half, then standing frozen in the center of the ring while a very mediocre cruiserweight awkwardly circled around him, landing a few soft shots here and there. Anyone trying to convince you that a boxing match is high-level based on ticket sales and pay-per-view numbers is either dishonest or an imbecile.
If Chris and Conor had different last names, and if their fathers hadn’t been part of one of the most intense and passionate rivalries in British boxing history, the fight at the center of this article would probably never have taken place. At most, it would have been an undercard bout for a more prestigious event, without making headlines or stirring up feverish anticipation.
The reasons for this claim are many, and all rather obvious. First of all, Chris Eubank Jr’s career, after an initial phase where he seemed genuinely motivated to reach the top of the sport, has been floating for years in a limbo of meaningless fights. This was made even more bleak by the brutal knockout he suffered two years ago at the hands of former super welterweight Liam Smith.
Conor Benn’s recent past has been equally underwhelming. The son of the legendary “Dark Destroyer” failed two drug tests in 2022, testing positive for clomiphene, a banned substance that can boost testosterone levels. Since then, he has been engaged in a legal battle to avoid suspension.
In the two fights he has had since the scandal, Benn has not looked like the wrecking ball that previously destroyed Chris Algieri and Chris van Heerden. While he clearly defeated Rodolfo Orozco and Peter Dobson, the Englishman didn’t display his usual explosiveness, leading many to suspect that it has something to do with stopping the use of banned substances.
Adding to all these concerns is the weight issue between the two fighters. Chris Eubank Jr spent the early part of his career as a super middleweight before moving down in 2019. Benn, on the other hand, fought as a welterweight for six years before stepping up to the 154-pound limit in his last two fights. It’s quite clear that Chris will have the advantage in size and physicality.
Another red flag is the rehydration clause, which will prevent Eubank from gaining more than 10 pounds between the official weigh-in and fight night. These clauses, supposedly intended for fairness, are often requested by the smaller fighter in hopes of weakening their opponent.
The possibility that Eubank might suffer from the weight cut and deliver a lackluster performance only adds to the doubts—if there were any left—about the sporting value of this highly publicized event.
So, what are the valid reasons to be more excited for this fight than for any other second-tier boxing match? Almost none, aside from eggs, slaps, and loud words. Actually, there is one thing left: the magic connection between those two last names, Eubank and Benn, which made British boxing great in the early ’90s.
But if that’s what gets your adrenaline pumping, here’s my advice: forget about this poor imitation and enjoy the real thing. Sit back, go to YouTube, and, completely free of charge, relive every detail of the two legendary battles that Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn gave us over 30 years ago. Even knowing the results in advance, you’ll enjoy them far more than what awaits you on April 26.