Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn fight breakdown, prediction and betting odds

Eubank vs Benn - Legacy on the Line

Four decades on from British boxing’s greatest rivalry, the next generation Chris Eubank Jr. (32-2, 23KO) and Conor Benn (21-0, 14KO) are reviving the epic Eubank-Benn conflict that defined their era.

Neither one of these sons are in the same league as their fathers but you have to put respect on their names for emerging from their shadows to reignite this 30-year war.

Although not as talented as their dads, they each share similarities with their patriarchs – Eubank Jr. carries the same arrogance as Senior, and Connor shows the same spite as ‘The Dark Destroyer’, a moniker that he has transposed to ‘The Destroyer’ for himself.

Under Tony Sims, Conor Benn has progressed from an average prospect to a world level fighter. His amateur career took place in Australia where he won 20 from 22 fights, performing in front of crowds of around 20 spectators in bingo halls, admitting himself that boxing was not a big sport Down Under like it is in England.

Eubank Jr. hung up has vest with a very similar record of 24-2, also abroad, but against much higher quality. He won the Golden Gloves in Nevada, then the Western States between 2007-2008. In the UK, he won the prestigious Haringey Box Cup.

Matchroom Boxing’s Benn has progressed remarkably well from fight to fight and has developed into a real force at world level, currently ranked in the top five with all the governing bodies (No.6 with the IBO).

Early in his career, not many would have predicted he would make it this far, and even now there’s a lot of sceptics who don’t believe he will cut it at the very top, but the heavily tattooed pugilist keeps on proving his doubters wrong with increasingly improved performances.

It’s been the exact opposite for Eubank, who began his career as a hot prospect. Now trained by the legendary Roy Jones Jr., he was once prophesised by his father early on his career to become even better than Floyd Mayweather, but was disastrously wrong.

During his only two defeats against world champions Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves, he was outboxed by higher skilled and experienced fighters, but he gave one hell of a fight to both his conquerors. Although he can be outboxed, he can’t be beaten easily.

Since joining RJJ, he has looked like a very different fighter; no longer wild and crude like he was against Groves, but far more measured, balanced, poised, composed and accurate.

Only nine opponents have made it to the final bell against Eubank Jr., but in his last fight against Liam Williams, Chris had the Welshman down in four of the 12 rounds yet failed to finish him off. If he scores a knockdown against Benn, will he let him off the hook too?

Whereas Benn has been prolific in his last two bouts, knocking out Chris van Heerden within four minutes and then there was that stunningly quick combo to KO Chris Algieri out cold in four. In his last fight, he was tagged cleanly a lot of times as he came in aggressively and far too recklessly in search of the quick finish. He seemed content to take a shot to land a shot, but could you imagine taking that many clean punches from either of the welterweight world champions, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence?

Conor Benn was the one that called for this fight, despite having many options at 147lbs, especially the chance to face the European champion, David Avanesyan, which is a fight fans have been calling for, for some time now.

Did Benn look at the names above him – David Avanesyan; Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis; Vergil Ortiz; Keith Thurman – and think his chances of victory were looking lean, so chose a big-money match where, even if he loses, his credibility will remain intact?

However, the biggest question is how will Chris cope with the catchweight clause? He has said during interviews that he’s not sure exactly how he will make the weight and also suggested he won’t be at his strongest having sacrificed so many pounds to make the fight happen. Despite having to pay a fine of $100,000 for every pound missed on the scales, it’s been reported that he plans to come in heavier at 158lbs and not the agreed 157lbs limit.

 

Betting Odds

Middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. is predictably the favourite at 4/9 with Betway, while the smaller welterweight, Conor Benn, is 9/5 to win which would even up the score for his father, Nigel, who has a defeat and draw on his record to Eubank Sr. The odds for the draw are remarkably low at 14/1.

 

Predictions

There are no titles at stake in this Eubank-Benn trilogy, but there is legacy on the line as each of the sons aspires to honour their famous fighting fathers. Because of the history and bad blood between the families, neither one of these men will lose lightly; whichever the outcome, the fallen will be going out on their shield.

We’ve seen Eubank Jr. lose to skilful fighters already, one of those was George Groves who hit Chris with some heavy shots. Eubank was bleeding from a cut on his right eye and breathing heavily, but the big super-middleweight couldn’t stop his aggressive advances which lasted the full 12 rounds. With this in mind, how could a welterweight that’s filled out another 10lbs do any more damage than a hard hitting, fully fledged super-middle? It’s difficult to back Benn to win via stoppage.

So, could Benn win on points? Perhaps faster and sharper, Benn could score his shots and get out of harm’s way in time to rack up the rounds to win on points, but consistently doing this over the course of 36 minutes is a hard ask. When you factor in that he’s three inches shorter than Eubank and gives away five inches in reach, it’s an even bigger ask to land without being landed on.

Benn gets caught quite a lot, so if this fight lasts the distance, then Eubank should be the one to score the more eyecatching, clean shots to impress the judges.

Personally, I think this fight ends with the bigger man stopping the smaller welterweight. It’s difficult to tell when this will happen until we see how Benn starts. Will he be as aggressive as his last few fights? Because that fighting fury will be too hasty and reckless to work against CBE. Or will it be a far more cautious, calculated approach knowing the size and calibre of his 22nd opponent? Whatever happens, I think Benn will have quite a few rounds in him because he has proven his heart before. 

If Eubank scores an early knockdown, I foresee it being more of a flash knockdown than a fight-ending punch connecting. It's possible there could be a few flash knockdowns during the fight, which Benn should get back to his feet from, his pride bruised more than anything else.

Some have questioned whether it could be a Hagler-Hearns shootout, but I'm not sure Eubank would play into that kind of frantic, frenzied, all-out war fight. He has done before, against Groves for example, but Jones Jr. has transformed him since then.

I predict the bigger middleweight Chris Eubank Jr. to stop the smaller welterweight Conor Benn after six rounds.