- Chris Eubank Jr was taken to hospital for precautionary checks by ambulance
- He beat bitter rival Conor Benn 116-112 on all three scorecards in a gruelling bout
- Eubank Jr suffered a cut above his right eye in the latter stages of the fight
Chris Eubank Jr has been taken to hospital by ambulance for precautionary checks after beating Conor Benn by unanimous decision in a punishing grudge match in London.
The post-fight press conference was cancelled, with both fighters having looked exhausted and Eubank Jr suffering a cut above his right eye after a clash of heads in the ninth round.
Eubank Jr won 116-112 on each scorecard as he inflicted a first career defeat on Benn, claiming bragging rights in their grudge match after a 30-month wait to clash.
His legendary father had expressed fears in the run-up to the fight about the safety of his son attempting to make weight.
He failed the first weigh-in on Friday, being narrowly over the 160lb and slapped with a $500,000 (£375,000) fine as a result, before making weight for the strict 170lb cap for the fight-day weigh-in.
But he cut a dominant figure in the ring, landing 152 more punches than his opponent on his way to winning eight rounds.
Chris Eubank Jr has been taken to hospital for precautionary checks after beating Conor Benn
The 35-year-old was pushed all the way in a punishing 12-round contest with his rival
He managed to win 116-112 on all three scorecards, handing Benn a first career defeat
There appeared to be a moment where he was out on his feet in the 12th round, sticking his head through the ropes, but he rallied back in a demanding last minute.
‘I knew I was capable of that, I just needed someone to bring that out of me. I’m not going to lie, I didn’t expect that he’d be the guy to do that,’ he said in the aftermath.
‘But the fact that our fathers did what they did all those years ago, it brings about a different soul and spirit into you, and that’s what we showed tonight.’
Eubank Jr celebrated with his father, the former middleweight champion, who shocked the boxing world by turning up to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to back his son.
The 58-year-old had threatened to boycott the fight due to safety fears, calling it ‘against the law of boxing,’ and branded his son ‘disgraceful’ for slapping his rival with an egg during a February press conference.
But catching up with Mail Sport at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, he said: ‘I back my son no matter what. The egg thing he did? Very disappointed, but I forgave him instantly. And now, he always has to understand you always have to preach that this is not the way we behave as standardbearers, as noblemen.’
