Chris Eubank Jr will fight Conor Benn in London, it has been confirmed.
Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority which organized a string of high-profile events under the banner of the season in Riyadh, said Eubank v Benn was “done in April, London”.
Eubank Jr and Benn were originally scheduled to face each other in October 2022, only for the latter to fail two drug tests.
Benn's license was revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control, but the suspensions were lifted last November after the National Anti-Doping Commission said it was “not satisfied” the 28-year-old had committed a doping offence.
Since the canceled fight more than two years ago, Eubank Jr has lost to Liam Smith, but won a rematch in 2023 and fought just once in 2024, with a stoppage win over Kamil Szeremet.
Ben spent 525 days out of the ring before boxing in America, beating Mexican Rodolfo Orozco in September 2023 in Florida, then Peter Dobson in Las Vegas last February. He won both by unanimous decision.
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Eubank Jr challenged Benn to face him next and the pair clashed with soccer superstar Neymar standing between them last year
With Tottenham Hotspur Stadium reportedly the venue for the fight, promoter Ben Shalom previously said Sky Sports: “This is one of the biggest fights for British boxing next to Fury v Joshua. I believe it sells out any stadium in the country.”
The weight the pair – the sons of arch-rivals Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn – would be fighting for was a key point in negotiations to fight, with Benn boxing at welterweight and Eubank two divisions up at middleweight. Eubank was determined to keep this rescheduled fight in his division, 160 lbs, and not at bantamweight.
It wasn't until Tuesday that Eubank Jr publicly criticized Benn and his promoter Eddie Hearn for “trying to force rehydration on me to fight.”
Benn replied, “10 pounds of rehydration because I'm already fighting a middleweight, but you want to step into the ring as a light heavyweight?
“I already excuse myself when I pin you to the floor.”
Negotiations for the fight dragged on. Benn said earlier Sky Sports: “In my opinion, it's one of the greatest British domestic fights in history. I don't think two fathers and two sons have ever fought (like this). It's about history. It's about legacy.”