Conor Benn reveals thoughts on Chris Eubank Jr win with scrapped fight back on the cards
Eubank Jr stopped Liam Smith on Saturday, avenging a TKO loss to the Liverpudlian – and Benn was watching from ringside
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Conor Benn played down Chris Eubank Jr’s win over Liam Smith on Saturday, while pushing for his own fight with the Brighton boxer to be rearranged.
Benn was due to box Eubank Jr in October 2022, but the bout collapsed when it was revealed that Benn had failed two drug tests in the lead-up to the catchweight contest.
Eubank Jr went on to box Smith at middleweight in January, losing to the Liverpudlian in the fourth round, before avenging that defeat with a stoppage of Smith in Round 10 on Saturday.
Benn, 26, has been hit with bans and appeals since his drug-test saga began, and he has not fought since April 2022. The unbeaten Briton believes he is nearing a return, though, and was ringside for Eubank Jr vs Smith 2 at the AO Arena in Manchester.
“Smith made him look good,” said Benn, per Talksport. “What, it takes you 10 rounds to dispatch of someone who’s got a broken leg? I’m not really impressed.
“You could definitely see that it was an injury [to Smith], that’s all that was. One hundred per cent, you could tell Smith weren’t himself. His shots weren’t coming off, he weren’t able to get out the way of the shots. And that’s all that was.
“I didn’t think it was an impressive performance [by Eubank Jr]. If you’ve got a wounded man in there, take hold of them, get them out of there. If I’ve got someone injured in front of me who can’t throw back, they ain’t seeing the end of the round. That’s it.
“[Eubank Jr] looked better than he has done previously, but it weren’t all that. Smith made him look good tonight.”
Benn, who was referencing an apparent ankle injury suffered by Smith, also responded to a post-fight callout by Eubank Jr, saying: “Let’s get it on, there’s unfinished business there.”
Benn, who is currently ineligible to box in Britain, has also hinted that he could return to the ring in Florida on 23 September.
Eubank Jr vs Benn, had it gone ahead in October 2022, would have taken place almost 29 years to the day after the pair’s fathers fought each other for the second time. Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn fought to a draw in their 1993 rematch, after the former won their first clash in 1990.
Click here to subscribe to The Independent’s Sport YouTube channel for all the latest sports videos.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments