Tyson Fury, Ricky Hatton and boxing’s biggest names predict Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn
Chris Eubank Jr opens as a big favourite with the bookies, but several experts believe Conor Benn can upset the applecart. The bitter rivals are set to square off on Saturday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a grudge match that has been two years in the making. Everyone has an opinion on how Eubank Jr vs Benn will go Eubank Jr and Benn were initially scheduled to duke it out in October 2022 – almost 30 years after their fathers’ iconic two-fight series. However, the show was called off when Benn tested positive for the banned substance, clomifene, in two pre-fight drug tests. ‘The Destroyer’ was subsequently slapped with a provisional suspension from the British Boxing Board of Control, which was eventually lifted for good by the National Anti-Doping Panel last November. He is now free to resume his career on British shores and will partake in his homecoming fight at middleweight (160lbs), two weight classes above his natural weight. Several members of the boxing fraternity believe Eubank Jr, who has competed as high as super middleweight (168lbs), will be too big for Benn. But the 10lbs rehydration clause inserted into both fighters’ contracts will prove a difficult task for Eubank Jr, who is already very tight at the middleweight limit. There are multiple factors at play when it comes to predicting a winner, and as a result, the boxing world is divided. Here, talkSPORT.com looks at how some of boxing’s preeminent voices see the domestic dust-up going. Who is picking Chris Eubank Jr? Tyson Fury Fury believes size will play a factorGETTY “[Eubank Jr] It’s a weight category thing,” Tyson Fury said. “If it’s 10.5 stone, it’s going to be Conor Benn. If it’s at middleweight, then probably Chris Eubank Jr.” Roy Jones Jr Jones Jr used to train Eubank JrGetty “It’s a very tough fight for Conor, I’m not going to say he can’t win it,” Roy Jones Jr told talkSPORT. “But it’s going to be a rough one, to me his best chance is to land a big shot and it doesn’t hurt him, it’s rough. “Chris is a much improved fighter, he has improved his foundations and made himself better. “He’s going to really hard to beat for any guy, especially one that is smaller than him. “But we saw Liam Smith do it, so I’m sure that gave Benn much more hope of doing the same. “It’s going to be a great fight, but I think Chris will have the advantages as he is just bigger.” Moses Itauma “I would put my money on Eubank Jr because he is more experienced and he is obviously bigger,” Moses Itauma told talkSPORT. Liam Smith Smith is the only man to be able to stop Eubank JrGETTY “I’ve always said when the fight first got talked about, even before I boxed Chris, that Chris was too big,” Liam Smith told talkSPORT.com. “If Conor can make 147lbs then he is too small to make 160lbs, realistically. “Even when I was 154lbs [super welterweight], I couldn’t make welterweight. “I think anyone who can make welterweight shouldn’t be anywhere near middleweight. “Conor will be hoping a lot of things will come into play, and the fight with me will play a big part. “After what I did to Chris, I wouldn’t be shocked if Conor manages to do the same. “It’s a closer fight now because of our fight, but I’d still pick Chris on points.” Kell Brook Brook wants to fight the winner of Eubank Jr and BennGetty “I’ve got Eubank to win,” Kell Brook told talkSPORT. “I think just with his size, but I don’t because the weight’s an issue. “What’s it going to have took out of Eubank when he gets in the ring? “We’re going to have to wait and see, but I just slightly favour towards Eubank in this fight just because he’s boxed on a bigger level. “For me, Conor’s not really boxed at that level as of yet.” Who is picking Conor Benn? Ricky Hatton Hatton believes Benn’s mindset will win him the fightGetty “Chris will be boiling himself down a little bit. The last time he did boil himself down a little bit, he ended up stepping in with Liam Smith and got knocked out,” Ricky Hatton told Sky Sports. “That will help Conor. It’s really 50/50 to me but I, knowing Nigel like I do and Conor like I the self-belief that Conor has. “He has that real self-belief and drive and will to succeed like his Dad did. I think that might give him the edge. So I’m gonna go with Conor.” Adam Azim Azim is going for the younger, fresher fighterGETTY “I’m going for Conor Benn, obviously Eubank Jr is the bigger fighter but I feel like Benn is the fresher fighter and he will get him out of there,” Adam Azim told talkSPORT. “There are weight divisions for a reason, but looking at Eubank Jr’s last performance, I wasn’t keen on it.” Simon Jordan Jordan thinks Benn will stop Eubank Jr early “I’ve got a feeling that feeling as well [that Benn will stop Eubank Jr in six rounds],” Simon Jordan told talkSPORT. “He shouldn’t because Chris is bigger and more
Chris Eubank Jr opens as a big favourite with the bookies, but several experts believe Conor Benn can upset the applecart.
The bitter rivals are set to square off on Saturday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a grudge match that has been two years in the making.
Eubank Jr and Benn were initially scheduled to duke it out in October 2022 – almost 30 years after their fathers’ iconic two-fight series.
However, the show was called off when Benn tested positive for the banned substance, clomifene, in two pre-fight drug tests.
‘The Destroyer’ was subsequently slapped with a provisional suspension from the British Boxing Board of Control, which was eventually lifted for good by the National Anti-Doping Panel last November.
He is now free to resume his career on British shores and will partake in his homecoming fight at middleweight (160lbs), two weight classes above his natural weight.
Several members of the boxing fraternity believe Eubank Jr, who has competed as high as super middleweight (168lbs), will be too big for Benn.
But the 10lbs rehydration clause inserted into both fighters’ contracts will prove a difficult task for Eubank Jr, who is already very tight at the middleweight limit.
There are multiple factors at play when it comes to predicting a winner, and as a result, the boxing world is divided.
Here, talkSPORT.com looks at how some of boxing’s preeminent voices see the domestic dust-up going.
Who is picking Chris Eubank Jr?
Tyson Fury
“[Eubank Jr] It’s a weight category thing,” Tyson Fury said.
“If it’s 10.5 stone, it’s going to be Conor Benn. If it’s at middleweight, then probably Chris Eubank Jr.”
Roy Jones Jr
“It’s a very tough fight for Conor, I’m not going to say he can’t win it,” Roy Jones Jr told talkSPORT.
“But it’s going to be a rough one, to me his best chance is to land a big shot and it doesn’t hurt him, it’s rough.
“Chris is a much improved fighter, he has improved his foundations and made himself better.
“He’s going to really hard to beat for any guy, especially one that is smaller than him.
“But we saw Liam Smith do it, so I’m sure that gave Benn much more hope of doing the same.
“It’s going to be a great fight, but I think Chris will have the advantages as he is just bigger.”
Moses Itauma
“I would put my money on Eubank Jr because he is more experienced and he is obviously bigger,” Moses Itauma told talkSPORT.
Liam Smith
“I’ve always said when the fight first got talked about, even before I boxed Chris, that Chris was too big,” Liam Smith told talkSPORT.com.
“If Conor can make 147lbs then he is too small to make 160lbs, realistically.
“Even when I was 154lbs [super welterweight], I couldn’t make welterweight.
“I think anyone who can make welterweight shouldn’t be anywhere near middleweight.
“Conor will be hoping a lot of things will come into play, and the fight with me will play a big part.
“After what I did to Chris, I wouldn’t be shocked if Conor manages to do the same.
“It’s a closer fight now because of our fight, but I’d still pick Chris on points.”
Kell Brook
“I’ve got Eubank to win,” Kell Brook told talkSPORT. “I think just with his size, but I don’t because the weight’s an issue.
“What’s it going to have took out of Eubank when he gets in the ring?
“We’re going to have to wait and see, but I just slightly favour towards Eubank in this fight just because he’s boxed on a bigger level.
“For me, Conor’s not really boxed at that level as of yet.”
Who is picking Conor Benn?
Ricky Hatton
“Chris will be boiling himself down a little bit. The last time he did boil himself down a little bit, he ended up stepping in with Liam Smith and got knocked out,” Ricky Hatton told Sky Sports.
“That will help Conor. It’s really 50/50 to me but I, knowing Nigel like I do and Conor like I the self-belief that Conor has.
“He has that real self-belief and drive and will to succeed like his Dad did. I think that might give him the edge. So I’m gonna go with Conor.”
Adam Azim
“I’m going for Conor Benn, obviously Eubank Jr is the bigger fighter but I feel like Benn is the fresher fighter and he will get him out of there,” Adam Azim told talkSPORT.
“There are weight divisions for a reason, but looking at Eubank Jr’s last performance, I wasn’t keen on it.”
Simon Jordan
“I’ve got a feeling that feeling as well [that Benn will stop Eubank Jr in six rounds],” Simon Jordan told talkSPORT.
“He shouldn’t because Chris is bigger and more experienced, I just think the ferocity might come through.”
talkSPORT Fans
A survey on this weekend’s fight by The Dugout, talkSPORT’s listener panel, reveals that 52% of 350 respondents are backing Eubank Jr to get his hand raised.
A further 43% are picking Eubank Jr via knockout, with the mid rounds from 5 to 8 being the most popular choice at 40%.
Are you ready to share your thoughts about content, shows and upcoming events? Join The Dugout by clicking here and have your say alongside 5,000 other listeners.
Eubank Jr v Benn Live on talkSPORT
More than 30 years after their dads fought each other, Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn finally meet in the ring.
The fight will be LIVE on talkSPORT on Saturday 26 April from the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Steve Collins, who beat both Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, is part of talkSPORT’s team and will join Adam Catterall, Gareth A Davies, Spencer Oliver and John Rawling for commentary on fight night.
You can also catch the action on talkBOXING’s YouTube Watchalong.
