Chris Eubank Jr has vowed for the second time to retire from boxing if he loses to bitter rival Conor Benn.
Eubank Jr will step into the ring in one of his most high-profile bouts to date when he settles his family feud with Benn at London's O2 arena on October 8. Both men will go into the event with huge pressure, as they look to settle a long-term grudge which originated from their fathers two-fight series which first began over 30 years ago.
The British middleweight has suffered two career defeats already and another would put a huge dent in his plan to challenge for a world title again. Eubank Jr previously suggested defeat by Benn would signal his last outing in the ring, when he said: "No excuses, for me this is actually lose-lose and for him it's a win-win.
"If I lose to Conor Benn on October 8, I'm finished. Finished. My goal is to fight for a world title within the next year. I can't lose to Conor Benn and then say 'hey, let me fight for a middleweight world title'. It just can't happen."
Eubank Jr has now renewed his words in a heated face-off with Benn, where he told his rival: “I said it – if he pulls off a miracle and beats me, I have to retire. So that’s a huge pressure. I’ve never ever said this, ever. An act of God is what it would be for you [Benn] to beat me. I’m always a man of my word, so that’s another reason why this is personal – because I love being a fighter, I love the sport of boxing.
'I don’t want it to end. If you [Benn] pull off the miracle, I’m going to give you full credit. I’m telling you now, if you were to beat me I give you full credit and I walk away from the sport. So it’s not an excuse. I believe it’s a physical impossibility that you get anywhere close to me. Prove me wrong.”
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If Eubank Jr is to suffer defeat, it will pose a very different problem to him than for his rival Benn who would likely return to campaign at welterweigh. During a press conference last month, Benn claimed that his domestic counterpart would be left with no option but to fight YouTube star Jake Paul if he is to lose their upcoming showdown.
And despite insisting he would retire, Eubank Jr admitted he would be open to facing Paul if he loses. "Of course to be honest I would love to fight Jake Paul it is free money," he said when assessing his future if he was to be defeated. Sure, I am a prizefighter."
