Brits Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are coming together in a long awaited boxing match. The all-New York showdown will kick off on Saturday, April 26 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Win, lose or draw, this fight will be historic. It reawakens the decades-old feud between their fathers, who haven’t competed against each other in the ring since 32 years ago. Eubank Jr, 35, goes into the fight with the greater ring experience. On the other hand, his opponent Benn, 28, is moving up two weight classes to face Eubank Jr at middleweight after fighting back from a two-year doping suspension.
Benn’s two positive drug tests led to the cancellation of their original bout. That has raised the stakes for their meeting in two weeks to a fever pitch. Boxing analysts and former fighters are divided on who will emerge victorious, with predictions ranging from Eubank Jr’s potential knockout to Benn’s chances of winning on points.
Derek Chisora, a veteran boxer, believes Eubank Jr has the upper hand but acknowledges Benn’s ability to surprise. “The smart money is on Eubank. He had fights when Benn was on holiday,” Chisora stated. However, he added, “I’m friends with Benn… I’ll go with Benn because I want him to win because of his family and legacy.”
Benn’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, had said leading up to the fight that an aggressive start was crucial for his fighter. He stated, “Benn has to start fast in this fight, he has to land and he has to hurt him early and get his respect and, quite frankly, get him out of there.”
The defense was on full display Former champion Josh Taylor pointed out the clear stylistic difference between the two fighters. “Eubank is the naturally bigger and more experienced opponent but Benn is a young, hungry lion,” he explained.
As the public debate intensifies, deep divides open up over how this battle will be fought in the future. British fighter Hamzah Sheeraz is so sure of Benn’s chances that he’s predicting the welterweight will stop Eubank Jr on his way to victory. As for Liam Smith, he says he’s not sure but is tentatively picking Benn on points. “I find it hard to pick a winner… I do edge towards Benn winning on points,” Smith said.
Whichever way the fight plays out, the buzz around this matchup is electric among boxing fans, as many expect them to be trading serious firepower in the opening rounds. Francesca Hennessy remarked, “The first six rounds of the fight will be explosive.” In like manner, Caroline Dubois added to that idea when she said, “It’s going to be great.”
The hocus-pocus predictions about the fate underscore the mixture of old and new in this battle. While some experts lean towards Eubank’s knockout potential due to his size and experience, others believe that Benn’s ferocious style could turn the tide in his favor.
“I think Eubank wins by knockout. It will be a frantic first two or three rounds and then it will calm down and Eubank will take over. A knockout in round six.” – Ben Shalom
“If Benn wins it is because he goes in with controlled aggression and detonates when he needs to.” – Anthony Yarde
With the fight date drawing ever closer, excitement is growing among fans and pundits for what should attract some serious PPV numbers. Neither fighter can afford to lose. For Eubank, it’s the honour of his family name he seeks to defend. For Benn, this bout is about redemption.
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