There may have been no eggs thrown this time, but the press conference ahead of Chris Eubank Jr’s rematch with Conor Benn still delivered fireworks.
The pair came face-to-face in London on Wednesday to promote their second clash, set for November 15 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
From the moment they stepped on stage, the tension was unmistakable and, as ever, the first sparks flew between Eubank Jr and Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn.
Eubank wasted no time in framing himself as the people’s fighter while dismissing Benn’s claims to that title.
He said: ‘I’m telling you right here and now, you [Benn] ain’t no champ and you most def ain’t no people’s camp.
‘You keep letting Eddie Hearn blow smoke up your a*** you’re going to end up more of an embarrassment than he is.
The first press conference ahead of the rematch between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn delivered the drama
Eubank Jr wasted little time in taking aim at Matchroom promotor Eddie Heard on the microphone
‘These men aren’t men of the people. They are pretending. They’re pretending to be the good guys. Wolves in sheep’s clothing. They will do anything they can.
‘They will screw anyone they can. They will break any rules they can.
‘Ruthless, immoral and without restraint. They did everything they could to try and destroy me in this last fight.
‘Contract breaches, fines, rehydration clauses, sabotage weigh-in, bias commentary and refereeing.
‘The list goes on, it’s endless. Even on fight night they blocked my team from coming to the stadium for 30 minutes.’
The accusations didn’t stop there. Eubank went further, alleging that Matchroom even interfered with his medical care after the fight.
He said: ‘I go out there and win the fight. After the fight, due to severe dehydration I am put in an ambulance and go to hospital.
‘I was so dehydrated one of the toenails fell off. I am in the ambulance, [they] blocked that ambulance from leaving the stadium for 20 minutes.’
Benn wore a Manchester City shirt in tribute to the late Ricky Hatton, who passed away at the weekend
Hearn hit back immediately, accusing Eubank of inventing grievances. He denied the claims, and threatened to sue Eubank.
‘You’re playing the victim and we see through you. You’re saying we stopped the ambulance? We’ll see. You’re talking about we put things in place that you signed to do? It’s not the truth. We will see my friend.’
With the verbal sparring at full tilt, the focus eventually returned to the fight itself. Nigel Benn, father of Conor, reflected on his son’s performance in the first meeting:
‘We’ll see the real Conor, a lot lunging the punches in. He had Chris wobbling three or four times, yet didn’t finish him – the occasion got to him.’
Benn’s trainer, Tony Sims, echoed that sentiment while stressing the adjustments needed for the rematch.
He said: ‘It was a tremendous fight for the fans. Conor knows he has to make adjustments to beat Chris, and he has enough in his locker to do that.
‘He was too emotionally invested in the first fight, it was his first fight at middleweight and topping the bill in a big stadium. His first loss. He has to overcome these, and I think he will do that.’
The rematch follows their historic first meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April, where Eubank Jr claimed victory by unanimous decision after 12 punishing rounds.
Benn’s team were accused of blocking the ambulance carrying Eubank Jr from getting to hospital for 20 minutes
Eubank Jr got the better of his opponent last time out, but Benn is confident he can turn the tide in the rematch
That night was billed as the continuation of one of British boxing’s most storied rivalries, and it lived up to the weight of history attached to the Eubank and Benn names.
Eubank Jr boxed with composure, using his jab and footwork to control long stretches of the contest. Benn, in contrast, fought with relentless aggression, pressing forward and forcing Eubank into exchanges that thrilled the 60,000-strong crowd.
It was a battle of styles and over the course of 12 rounds, it was Eubank’s approach that proved decisive.
When the final bell rang, Eubank dropped to his knees in celebration, while Benn slumped back into his corner, visibly devastated.
The presence of Chris Eubank Snr at ringside, watching his son triumph in a rivalry that so closely mirrors his own wars with Nigel Benn, only added to the sense of theatre. For many, it felt like British boxing had come full circle.
But despite Eubank’s win, the rivalry was far from settled. Benn walked away with credit for his bravery and intensity, and his fans argued that his relentless pressure gave Eubank more trouble than the scorecards suggested.
The tension in the aftermath, with Eubank briefly hospitalised for precautionary checks and rumours swirling about the damage Benn had inflicted, only deepened the intrigue.
That is why the announcement of a rematch has been met with such anticipation. For Benn, November is a shot at redemption, a chance to prove that he can refine his ferocious style into a winning formula.
For Eubank Jr, it is an opportunity to silence any lingering doubts, to show that his first victory was no fluke and that he has truly stepped out of his father’s shadow.
