Eubank Jr. Gives Benn His First Loss In A Nail-Biting Fight
Chris Eubank Jr. secured an enthralling unanimous decision victory over Conor Benn in the biggest fight of his career: 116-12 (x3).
Eubank faced numerous obstacles heading into the fight. He failed to make the 160-pound limit, as he was fined £375,000. Eubank also had to abide by a ten-pound rehydration clause, which he stuck by. The boxer also had to deal with the uncertainty over whether his father, Chris Eubank Sr., was going to turn up. Sr. walked his son out, giving Eubank a massive lift as he delivered on fight night.
Benn started the fight well, as his double jab set up a right cross that landed in the opener. Eubank found success with his jab as he tried to keep Benn from simply closing the gap. Benn landed his left hook twice in the second, followed by a right over the top. However, Eubank was willing to trade with Benn. He found success in rounds three and four, landing his right uppercut clean upstairs.
Eubank stayed behind the jab, catching Benn, who was looking to land his left hook on the inside. The momentum shifted to Eubank as Benn got clipped with another right uppercut in the seventh. Then, a left hand pushed Benn on the back foot, and Chris connected it with a three-punch combo.
Benn found a second wind in the eighth, as Conor was letting his hands go. Eubank looked shaky on his legs. Eubank was now cut, with blood pouring over his right eye in the ninth. However, Chris dug deep to land his hook on Benn’s jaw in the tenth. The pair battled it out until the end, but it was Eubank who took home the spoils.
Post-Fight
“I knew I was capable of that, I just needed someone to bring that out of me. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t expect that he’d be the guy to do that,’ he said in the aftermath. But the fact that our fathers did what they did all those years ago, it brings about a different soul and spirit into you, and that’s what we showed tonight,” Eubank said
“It’s a hard one to swallow. I didn’t come into the fight thinking it would be that close. I didn’t come in the fight to lose. Obviously I weren’t good enough and I need to do better. It hurts me. No one likes to lose. Close fight, not close fight, you’ve got to be harsh on yourself and I look at myself and say this ain’t good enough for me. I want to win man. I don’t work hard to lose. I give everything I had. I just need to do better. Do you know what’s hard is it was so close. That’s what’s hard and I just didn’t get the knockdown. That’s what’s painful. If it was as close as people saying it is, that’s what’s painful. I weren’t outclassed. I wasn’t hurt in there. I just couldn’t get the finish,” Benn stated
Full Card
Chris Eubank Jr. def. Conor Benn via unanimous decision (116-112 x3) (live blog) | Highlights
Anthony Yarde def. Lyndon Arthur via unanimous decision (115-113, 116-112 x2)
Aaron McKenna def. Liam Smith via unanimous decision (119-108, 117-109, 118-108)
Viddal Riley def. Cheavon Clarke via unanimous decision (116-112, 117-111, 115-113)
Chris Billam-Smith def. Brandon Glanton via unanimous decision (116-113, 116-112 x2)
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