Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr step in the ring together again on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, almost seven months after their first encounter. Eubank beat his bitter rival in a 12-round battle and aims to extend the current clean sweep his family has over the Benn clan. Their fathers — Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank — fought in two world title contests in the 1990s. Will Benn claim revenge or will Eubank again be too much for the smaller man? Everything you need to know is below.
How to follow on the BBC
– Live text commentary begins from 20:00 GMT on the BBC Sport website and app, covering build-up to the main event.
– BBC Sport will carry daily coverage from London during fight week and Steve Bunce will deliver daily episodes of his 5 Live Boxing with Steve Bunce podcast.
UK time for the main event
– The first fight on the card is expected to begin at 17:00 GMT.
– Eubank and Benn are pencilled in to make their ringwalk at 21:35, with the fight expected to start around 22:00.
Undercard and running order
– Chris Eubank Jr v Conor Benn 2 — middleweight
– Jack Catterall v Ekow Essuman — welterweight
– Adam Azim v Kurt Scoby — light-welterweight
– Richard Riakporhe v Tommy Welch — heavyweight
– Sam Gilley v Ishmael Davis — British and Commonwealth super-welterweight titles
– Mikie Tallon v Fezan Shahid — super-flyweight
Weight and rehydration clause
– The weight restrictions mirror the first fight: a middleweight limit of 11st 6lb (160lbs).
– There is a rehydration clause — neither man can put on more than 10lb between Friday’s weigh-in and Saturday morning.
– In the first fight Eubank was fined £375,000 after missing weight by 0.05lb but was on weight on fight day.
– Friday weights for the first fight: Eubank 11st 6.05lb, Conor Benn 11st 2lb.
– Saturday weights for the first fight: Eubank 12st 0.4lb, Benn 11st 11lb.
News conference and weigh-in timings
– Media events are in London.
– Thursday: undercard news conference from 18:00 GMT; main event news conference at 19:00.
– Friday: weigh-in starts from 18:00.
– Saturday: hydration check between 09:00–10:00.
What happened in Eubank v Benn 1
– The first fight was entertaining but a clear win for Eubank over 12 rounds. Eubank appeared weight-drained and below his usual level, but Benn could not capitalise.
– Benn admitted he was too intent on a knockout early on and has suggested a more conservative approach for the rematch.
– Punch stats: Eubank landed 367 punches, Benn landed 215. Eubank landed 227 power punches to Benn’s 180. Eubank had a 40% landing rate to Benn’s 36%.
– All three judges scored the contest 116-112 for Eubank. Scorecards showed split decisions on rounds two, seven, eight, nine and ten. Judges were unanimous on several rounds: all gave Eubank rounds one, four, five, six, 11 and 12, and Benn round three.
Records and comparison
– Eubank (36) is the more experienced fighter with 38 professional bouts and has faced world champions including George Groves, Billy Joe Saunders, James DeGale and Liam Smith. His three defeats came to Smith, Groves and Saunders; he later avenged the loss to Smith.
– As the bigger man, Eubank carries a size advantage and has previously said he only needs 60% of his best to beat Benn.
– Benn (29) had been undefeated in 23 fights before losing to Eubank. His relative lack of world-title-level experience may have contributed to the first fight’s outcome. Benn has a slight reach and height disadvantage.
Why the first scheduled fight was cancelled
– Benn and Eubank were originally due to fight on 8 October 2022 at the O2 Arena. Benn failed two voluntary drug tests in the build-up and the British Boxing Board of Control prohibited the fight, refusing to sanction it. The fight was cancelled 48 hours beforehand and Benn faced a lengthy dispute over a doping ban.
– Benn was cleared to return in November 2024 after the Board and UK Anti-Doping failed in their appeal against the National Anti-Doping Panel’s decision to lift his suspension.
