EUBANK vs BENN: NEXT GEN
Eubank Jr: Sons of legends fighting? Who wouldn’t want to see that!
THEIR fathers’ rivalry is part of boxing folklore and now Chris Eubank Junior wants to renew it with Conor Benn.
Eubank Senior’s epic fights against Nigel Benn in the 1990s (both above) remain two of the greatest and bitterest Battles of Britain ever.
Eubank won the first in Birmingham in 1990 before their rematch three years later at Manchester United’s Old Trafford ended in a draw.
Eubank Jr is targeting a world title at middleweight and Conor Benn the same at welterweight, and he says fight fans would love to see them clash one day.
He said: “Benn is a fight that if it were to happen, it would be nice, it would be crazy.
“What fight fan wouldn’t want to see it? Two legends, their sons fighting each other, and they’re both doing big things in the boxing world.
“It doesn’t make any sense for right now, but in a couple of years when Benn has filled out a little and I want a little bit of fun, we can get it on.”
That mouthwatering prospect is one for the future and 32-yearold Eubank (below) claims he has become a big-name hunter after dominating Liam Williams in front of the Welshman’s home fans in Cardiff.
He is the No.1 contender for Ryota Murata’s WBA tile and the Japanese is contracted to face IBF king Gennady Golovkin next in their rearranged unification clash. Billy Joe Saunders and Kell Brook are also being touted as possible opponents.
Eubank said: “In a perfect world it’s a world title shot against Gennady Golovkin. That’s easier said than done, I understand that. So it’s about chasing those championship fights or the big names the fans can really get behind.”
The home fans inside the Motorpoint Arena never got behind him and booed and chucked a cigarette lighter at him when he stood on the ring apron at the end of his comprehensive win over their favourite. Eubank floored Williams in the first, second, fourth and 11th rounds – two from stiff jabs – and spent much of the time showboating because he was in such control. His other two knockdowns came from a left hook and a right in the penultimate round.
And he evaded most of Williams’ shots.
He won 116-109, 116-108, 117-109 on the scorecards and says he would have stopped Williams had he not damaged his piston left hand turning his opponent’s right eye into steak tartare.
Eubank, who improves to 32-2-0, relished humbling the brave Rhondda fighter because of the animosity between them and admitted biting him in retaliation for his headbutts and headlocks.
“I’ve never bitten anyone in the ring before, but I bit him,” he said. “He put his arm around my neck, he was squeezing my neck and his glove was close to my mouth, so I gave it a bite as hard as I could!
“If he’s going to fight dirty. I’m going to fight dirty.
“I wanted people to know where I am and he isn’t. Boxing is about levels and he’s not on my level.”