Eubank tops Benn in Fight-of-the-Year candidate
Chris Eubank Jr. earned a unanimous decision win over Conor Benn in a thrilling middleweight bout Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
All three judges scored the grudge match 116-112 in Eubank's favor.
"Everything surprised me," Eubank said after the victory. "I didn't know (Benn) had what he had in him. I really didn't. I thought I would break him early. I underestimated him. I didn't train for a fight like that.
"I didn't know he had that in him. He's never shown that. But then again, he's never had to show it. He had to show it tonight. And so did I."
Eubank and Benn traded heavy punches throughout 12 rounds to deliver the immediate front-runner for Fight of the Year.
Benn had a strong start, but Eubank found his rhythm in the second half of the fight to secure the decision. Eubank topped Benn 367-215 in total punches, 140-35 in jabs, and 227-180 in power punches, according to Compubox.
"I felt like it was a close fight," Benn said. "I'll go watch it back. I stayed on the ropes maybe a bit too long. He worked harder toward the end."
Saturday's main event was three years in the making. Eubank and Benn were scheduled to square off in October 2022, but the fight was canceled after Benn failed a drug test. Benn was cleared to compete in the United Kingdom late last year.
Eubank's and Benn's fathers, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, fought each other twice in the 1990s. Both were in attendance to watch their sons meet in the ring.
Eubank is now riding a three-fight winning streak, improving to 35-3 as a professional. The 35-year-old Englishman missed weight for the fight, coming in 0.05 pounds over the 160-pound limit.
Benn suffered his first career loss, falling to 23-1. The 28-year-old London native stepped into the ring for the first time since a February 2024 win over Peter Dobson.
Benn usually competes at welterweight but moved up to middleweight to face Eubank. He said he hopes to fight Eubank again or challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title next.
"If we don't do the rematch - which I'd love to avenge that loss - (I'll) go back down to welterweight and win the WBC world title," Benn said. "It's either Mario Barrios or the rematch with Eubank. Whichever happens next, I'll be content with."