Chris Eubank Jr has vowed to wipe Conor Benn off the boxing map when they finally meet in the ring.
The rivals will meet in the third instalment of the Eubank-Benn rivalry on Saturday night, 35 years after their famous fathers first clashed. The opening bell was scheduled to ring almost three years ago before Benn failed two drug tests in the build-up.
The adversaries came face to face for the penultimate time at their press conference on Thursday night, with no repeat of violence which blighted their first meeting two months ago when Eubank Jr smashed an egg into Benn’s face.
And Eubank Jr, who will start the fight as the bookmaker’s favourite, intends to make Benn may for his perceived sins. “This is about getting this kid out of boxing, we’re not taking him lightly anymore,” he said. “He should have taken the chance he had when I was underestimating him, when I was taking him lightly, that was his best shot. I have a duty to boxing to erase these guys from the picture.
“I will win any way I want to. It’s not about strength and speed and age and weight; it’s about dedication, it’s about who has paid their dues and who has done it clean. Who has dedicated their life, who’s real and who’s fake, and I believe all of those categories are in my favour.
“I’ve prepared my whole life for these moments. I’ve put the time in, I’ve dedicated decades to this sport, and I’ve done it all without cheating, without cutting any corners and I’m proud of that.
“The mentality I have, the experience, the fortitude and the will is what I will be using on the night to take out Conor Benn. I’m happy with where I am mentally and I don’t think Conor can say the same. I’m taking him back to school; I’m going to be the headteacher and you’ll be in detention.”
But Benn, who has fought twice since his first fight with Eubank Jr was cancelled, insisted he is not feeling the pressure ahead of the biggest fight of his career. “This is what I do, I love this game, this is what I live for,” he said.
“This is every professional’s dream. I’ve been doing this for 10 years and I’m more than ready. There is no pressure, I live for this. I’ve played the fight over 100 times in my head. I’m excited to get in there and lay my hands on him on Saturday night. I’m coming in to take his head off.”
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