Conor Benn has revealed reasons that ‘aren’t public’ have fuelled his hatred for long-time rival Chris Eubank Jr.
Both Benn and Eubank Jr are scheduled to go head-to-head in a middleweight dust-up on April 26 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Since the fight was confirmed, there seems to be a real animosity between the pair, who have been thrust into a family feud after their fathers’ famous fights in 1990 and 1993.
The British stars were due to fight back in October 2022, but the fight was cancelled just a few days before fight night after Benn failed drugs test. The 28-year-old has since had his suspension lifted and is now able to fight again in the UK. His last fight on home soil came against Chris van Heerden back in 2022 – a fight the Brit won via knockout in the second round.
After their fight was rebooked earlier this year, both have traded barbs online on multiple occasions. Eubank Jr sparked chaos during the launch press conference in Manchester after slapping his upcoming opponent in the face with an egg. With just over a week to go until the fight, Benn has opened up on his dislike towards the 35-year-old.
Regarding his feelings towards Eubank Jr ‘The Destroyer,’ told Sky Sports: “I don’t like Chris, I think he’s an idiot!” He added: “I hate what he stands for. I hate who he is as a man. What he’s chasing. Just him as a man, personally, for reasons that aren’t public… personal reasons between me and Chris that he’s fully aware of as to why I completely dislike him.”
The 28-year-old believes his upcoming opponent will have to retire should he lose their dust-up next weekend. “When he losses, he has to retire. I don’t understand why at this stage of his career why he chooses to fight a welterweight over a world title.”
He added: “I can drop back down and go and get my world title, no problem. I’ll go fight for the WBC title, the WBA, WBO, I think I’m top ranked, top five in almost every governing body. But for him, he’s chasing one thing and that’s the difference between me and him.”
When asked could he live with losing to Eubank Jr, Benn confidently replied: “No, I couldn’t. I’ve not lost. I’m undefeated. He will not be my first loss. That man I refuse to lose to.” Naturally ‘The Destroyer’s’ upcoming opponent is also confident of producing a career-defining performance and getting his hand raised on fight night, but believes it will be a spectacle like never seen before in British boxing.
“The fight will be one of a kind. It has never happened in boxing. No two fighters have had fathers who were world champions and fought in massive fights 30-odd years ago with the entire country watching.
“Now the two sons have grown up to become elite-level fighters and are going to fight. It has never happened and will never happen again. It is a massive deal. Fighting me, a sworn enemy in a fight broadcast around the world that could be at Wembley in front of 90,000 people or in an arena in Saudi is a whole different animal. It will bring out a beast in him that I cannot take lightly. I think it is going to be savage, one of the best fights British boxing, world boxing has seen for quite some time because it’s real. This isn’t pretend.”
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