The tale of Eubank vs Benn II is impossible to tell without first exploring the rivalry that created the match-up 35 years earlier. In the 1990s, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn highlighted British boxing with brutal battles that, to this day, are still remembered in the boxing world, battles that consisted of skill, blood, and guts.
They first faced off in 1990, a fight that culminated in a dramatic TKO in favor of Eubank Sr. Three years later in 1993, their rematch produced an extremely controversial draw that only intensified the fire of their feud. For many years fans still debate who truly won that fight.
Their business was left unfinished, and 35 years later their sons, Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr., became top contenders in the boxing world. The rivalry was reignited.
The build-up to Eubank vs Benn was an electric one. The tension off and on the media kept escalating as both fighters continued to target each other. They were not just carried by the ambition of the boxing world, but instead the unfinished rivalry of their fathers.
The press conferences quickly turned violent; weight issues arose, accusations, drama and the constant reminder of their
father’s past dominated every encounter these two fighters had. Finally, the night of the fight arrived, and it was no chess match. It was an extremely fast-paced, violent and evenly matched brawl from the get-go.
Benn came out putting immense pressure and landing hard-hitting combinations. Eubank Jr. did not stay behind whatsoever but instead met that pressure head on, countering and refusing to take a step back from the close-quarter brawl.
The momentum was all over the place; one round, Benn was dominated, and the next, Eubank was cornered on the ropes. When the final bell rang, both fighters were still standing, convinced they had done enough to win.
And so, the judges came up with the decision; Chris Eubank Jr. had won by unanimous decision, which in boxing means all judges were in favor. Immediately the public’s opinions were split, and it was guaranteed that they would be facing each other yet again.
A Eubank Jr. vs Ben II rematch finally came around, but this time it was not a family-based legacy match; it was about redemption. With Eubank Jr. coming from the first fight with a unanimous victory and Conor having lost.
This rematch had a whole new tension. Although the first match resulted in a unanimous decision, Benn, alongside many fans, were convinced that the scoring did not genuinely represent the war that took place in the ring.
However, Eubank believed that his first win had given him a certain amount of validation and evidence that he had handled things better than his opponent.
While Benn promised improvement for the rematch, Eubank took things more calmly, swearing that he would simply widen the gap in the upcoming fight. By the time that fight week arrived, it was one of the most anticipated fights of the year, a grudge match that people had been eagerly waiting for. The tensions, pressure, and weight of the battle felt even heavier than ever.
As the bell rang for the long-awaited rematch, it quickly became clear that this fight was entirely different, and the tides had fully turned.
Benn started out more controlled, sharper, more accurate yet with that pressure that he is known for. Eubank Jr. relied on his jab from the beginning of the fight, in an attempt to establish some rhythm. Benn’s power and timing had been substantially and visibly improved.
In the earlier rounds of the match, they both traded heavy shots, but Benn’s working of the body and precision started to get the best of Eubank. Even though the first half of the fightwas very competitive, as the rounds went by, the scale began to tip onto Benn’s side, who seemed more dangerous and comfortable as the rounds progressed even more than the previous fight.
The second half of the match finally brought a dramatic tilt of the scale that defined the rest of the fight. Benn was completely relentless as he proceeded to fire off against Eubank with fast and explosive combinations, strong punches and power shots.
Eventually, Eubank was dropped in Round 12 then again later in the same round. Even though the outcome of the battle was inevitable, he showed heart by getting up both times against all odds. However, Benn’s precision, explosiveness and intensity ended up overwhelming him.
The fight was over yet again, so Benn was given the victory by unanimous decision, however this time it was a very obvious win compared to the very close match they had earlier. The rivalry was 1-1.
This further cements Benn’s thrilling vengeance against Eubank. Many fans are divided due to the large skill gap that was presented during this bout. Though many state, the reason behind Eubank’s loss was the brutal weight cut; others say that his mind was not in the game due to the recent birth of his twins.
With a trilogy not being confirmed but also not fully discarded. One thing cannot be denied: this rivalry has become one of the most compelling stories in the history of British boxing.
