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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Reanna Smith

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn's 30-year inherited rivalry explained as match is banned

It's one of the most highly-anticipated matches of the year but the clash between boxing rivals Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn has now been prohibited from going ahead by the British Boxing Board of Control.

The long-running rivals were supposed to go head-to-head in London on Saturday night but the governing body have said that the match “is not in the interests of boxing” after Benn failed a drug test.

Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that Benn returned an "adverse analytical finding for trace amounts of a fertility drug".

Both promoters have insisted that the match could still go ahead, with Hearn saying: "Both camps are prepared to proceed with the fight but ultimately the conversations have to be had with the teams, the lawyers and the British Boxing Board of Control.

"There is currently no reason in terms of suspensions or violations why the fight should not take place."

However, the BBBofC said that they had made the decision to prohibit the match last night and made the boxers and their promoters aware of this this morning.

The upcoming clash was supposed to see the boxers settle a long-running family feud, nearly 30 years on from the iconic fight between their boxing legend fathers, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn, at Old Trafford.

As the future of the match is thrown into doubt, here's the history behind their rivalry.

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn's inherited rivalry

Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn started the family rivalry in the 90s (GETTY)

It's one of the biggest rivalries in boxing at the moment but Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn's feud is an inherited one that pre-dates their own careers, going all the way back to their fathers' own legendary rivalry, which began over three decades ago.

While it's their sons rivalry that's now in the spotlight, boxing legends Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn first started the family feud back in the 90s and their bitter rivalry came to a head in two iconic matches in 1990 and 1993.

In November 1990 Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn collided for the first time in an intense fight, which saw Eubank hide that an uppercut from Benn in the fourth round had made him to bite his tongue, causing a severe gash, while Benn's left eye was swollen shut by round five.

But the match came to an end with Eubank Sr retaining his flawless record and was followed by the boxers praising each other.

Speaking about his opponent after the match, Eubank Sr said: "He’s the hardest puncher I’ve ever come up against in my life – the man is just an animal". Meanwhile, Benn returned the praise, saying: “What a tremendous fighter he is, he deserved it man.”

However, the respect that the boxers had for each other wouldn't last long and by 1993 they had entered the ring together again in a legendary match at Old Trafford, watched by half a billion people worldwide.

The historic match saw another intense battle from both sides but the pair's rivalry was left unfinished when the fight was declared a draw.

The family rivalry was set to be reignited when the younger pair were due to meet later this week for one of the most highly-anticipated matches of the year.

Speaking about their long-running feud ahead of the match, Eubank Jr referenced their family history as he said: "Nothing like this has ever happened before in the history of the sport, two legends went into a ring 30 years ago and inspired a nation.

"They became superstars and etched their names into not just boxing history, but British history. Now, 30 years later, their son who have both made themselves in the sport of boxing are going to get in the ring."

Benn has also spoken about the family rivalry as he's promised to settle it once and for all, saying: "When we get in there we will settle the family business. I’m taking care of the family business. The last fight was a draw. It’s about time I set the score straight."

But now it looks like it may be some time before the two boxers can put an end to the feud.

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