Chris Eubank Jr is preparing for a second showdown with Conor Benn this weekend, but boxing legends fear this rematch could signal the end of the road for the veteran fighter.
The First Battle: A Costly Victory
When Chris Eubank Jr emerged victorious from his gruelling battle with Conor Benn last April, the win came at a significant physical cost. The modern revival of their fathers' historic rivalry finally delivered after three years of build-up, resulting in a 116-112 majority decision victory for Eubank.
The contest lacked technical finesse but provided frantic action, leaving Eubank hospitalised immediately after his hand was raised. He attributed this to severe dehydration caused by the demanding weight cut required for the fight, which significantly affected his performance in the ring.
Despite Benn having moments of success, Eubank dominated statistically, outlanding Benn in every single round with a career-high 367 connected punches. He proved particularly effective in the final three rounds, throwing 335 punches to Benn's 229 and maintaining superior accuracy when many expected him to fade.
Expert Predictions: A Fighter Past His Prime
With just 203 days between fights – a relatively quick turnaround for the 36-year-old Eubank – former world champions question whether his recovery abilities can withstand another brutal encounter.
George Groves, who dominated Eubank in their 2018 meeting, believes the fighter's best years are long behind him. "Eubank has looked old for some time now," Groves stated. "He got through the first fight through tenacity alone but it is hard to keep going to the well. When you have already beaten someone, sometimes the desire isn't always there. Eubank's will might not be there this time."
Carl Froch goes further, suggesting Saturday's bout could represent Eubank's final appearance in the ring. "Eubank is done after this," Froch declared. "He has made a bit of money, he probably can't believe his luck now with these Benn fights and this legacy. That was a hard fight first time around – he took a lot of shots, his face was swelled up, he took a lot of weight off. He will come back a lesser fighter and Benn is coming back a more well-rounded fighter."
The Recovery Factor and New Corner Advantage
Tony Bellew acknowledges that Eubank will benefit from having world-class trainer Brian 'BoMac' McIntyre in his corner this time, the man who guided Terence Crawford to boxing greatness. However, Bellew emphasises that the damage sustained in April may prove decisive.
"Eubank is a very good athlete and he does live the life," Bellew noted. "But it is about the recovery and I think his body went through hell that night. He spent some time in hospital after and that wasn't just down to the rehydration, that was also down to the shots he took. He absorbed more damage in that fight than he has done in a long while. The damage he took in May will show in this rematch."
As the fighters approach their second act in the family feud that began over thirty years ago with Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, the boxing world watches to see if Eubank Jr can defy predictions or if the legends' assessments prove accurate.
