Conor Benn has demanded a small ring for his showdown with long-time rival Chris Eubank Jr.
The two British boxing stars are scheduled to fight on Saturday night on a Ring Magazine event at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Both men are set to follow in the footsteps of their famous fathers – after their blockbuster fights in 1990 and 1993.
There is a real animosity between the pair, dating back to when they were first due to go head-to-head back in October 2022. However, their dust-up was cancelled just a few days before fight night after Benn failed a drugs test. That said, the 28-year-old – who has denied any wrongdoing – had his suspension lifted last year and is now able to compete in the UK again.
Ahead of the fight, Benn revealed the one contract demand he put forward for the fight against ‘Next Gen.’ Rather than wanting to be in the home corner or make the walk to the ring second, the Brit has asked for a smaller ring – and his wish was granted. In an interview with iFL TV, when asked whether he’ll knock Eubank Jr ‘in the middle of the ring,’ Benn said: “The only thing I’ve asked for in contractually… not my name first, not home corner, not ring walk second… all I’ve asked for is an 18 foot ring.”
Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn will face off on Saturday, April 26, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Fans can order the fight on DAZN PPV for £19.95, which also comes with a DAZN seven-day free trial.
His comments suggests he expects Eubank Jr to move quickly on his feet and that he wants to be able to cut off the space and eventually trap his opponent. With that, it seems as if ‘The Destroyer’ wants to then go toe-to-toe with his rival and look for a devastating knockout finish.
Opening up on his gameplan, he told Sky Sports: “Coming in there to steamroll him? Of course I am. You think I’m coming in there to muck about? That’s just how I am. If you think you’re faster than me, prove it. You think you’re stronger than me, prove it. You think you’re smarter than me, prove it,” he added. “Come meet me in the middle.”
Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn weighed in and offered his verdict on the ring size, saying: “It’ll be a nice small ring to have a tear-up in. It might suit Eubank. He may decide to stand and have a shootout.” But Hearn added: “Conor can box, by the way, he’s got great legs and his movement’s very good. It’s not like he just comes forward.
“That’s the thing that I think will give Eubank fits, is Conor’s movement, the way he dips down, comes in. It’s horrible. Stuck against the ropes, boom, boom, it’s the speed of it. There are very few fighters that are as sharp as Conor Benn early in a fight like that.
“Conor tries to end the fight in the first round, that’s why he’s so exciting. Eubank is not one of those fighters that starts fast out of the gate. Look at the Liam Smith fight, it’s a cracking example. If he decides to stand and trade, it’s all over in three rounds, one way or the other. It will be the British Hagler-Hearns. That’s what it’ll be.”
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