A heated clash, a secret revealed, and a rivalry concluded. Chris Eubank Jr.'s post-fight press conference took an unexpected turn when his promoter, Ben Shalom, hinted at the struggles Eubank Jr. faced leading up to his rematch with Conor Benn. This sparked an immediate and visibly annoyed reaction from Eubank Jr., who abruptly ended the conference.
Benn, 29, emerged victorious after 12 one-sided rounds, even knocking Eubank Jr. down twice in the final round. The judges' scores were decisive: 119-107, 118-108, and 116-110, solidifying Benn's win and concluding their long-standing rivalry.
Eubank Jr., who had been hospitalized after their previous fight due to severe dehydration from weight cutting, seemed in better physical condition this time. However, as the fight progressed, he appeared fatigued. Shalom's comment, made at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, suggested that Eubank Jr. had faced significant challenges during his training camp. Shalom stated, "All I want to say is what Chris went through in camp, he won't want to talk about it but the things I saw - he did incredibly well to get in the ring tonight. And I just want to say, he's the reason this has been so big." Eubank Jr. quickly interrupted, and Shalom continued, "Chris doesn't way to say it but I saw what I saw and he deserves a huge amount of credit to get in there tonight. It was an unbelievable spectacle."
Before exiting, Eubank Jr. mentioned personal issues and the weight cut as contributing factors to his struggles. He admitted he knew from the first round that he was facing an uphill battle. He acknowledged Benn's performance, stating, "He had a great performance. He did everything that was asked of him, and I congratulate him for his performance."
When asked about a potential trilogy fight, the 36-year-old Eubank Jr. remained non-committal, prioritizing his recovery and personal matters. This raises the question: Was the weight cut a bigger factor than he let on?
But here's where it gets controversial... Eubank Jr. had to shed weight to meet the fight's conditions. He weighed in lighter than Benn after being fined for missing the 160lbs limit in their first encounter. The rematch rules were the same, with Benn at 159.3lbs and Eubank Jr. at 159.1lbs. Footage showed the grueling process, with Eubank Jr. sweating profusely in a sauna and using exercise to shed the final pounds.
Following the fight, Benn expressed his desire to end the rivalry, celebrating his victory and praising his opponent and their fathers, who had their own legendary battles in the 1990s. He declared, "It's done and finished. It's over. This ends here." Benn's victory marked a significant achievement, as his father, Nigel, never defeated a Eubank.
What do you think? Did Eubank Jr.'s struggles impact his performance? Do you believe the rivalry is truly over, or could there be another chapter? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
