Thursday saw the final press conference for Chris Eubank Jr’s grudge match with Conor Benn, as the British rivals went face to face at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
It is in that venue that the pair will clash on Saturday, two-and-a-half years after their bout was scuppered by Benn’s adverse drug-test results – and more than 30 years after their fathers, Nigel Benn and Chris Sr, fought each other for the second and final time.
February’s first press conference between Eubank Jr, 35, and Benn, 28, saw the former slap his rival with an egg, while the follow-up that week was without physical action, though it was still captivating.
And the final edition, this Thursday, was similarly enthralling, as Eubank Jr spoke deeply on “pain”, including about the loss of his brother Sebastian and the poor state of his relationship with Sr.
Re-live all the action from the press conference at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium below:
Eubank Jr vs Benn press conference LIVE
- Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr share stage at final press conference for grudge match
- Eubank Jr gets deep on 'pain' while discussing brother's death and his poor relationship with Sr
- Nigel Benn spills sparring stories from son's training camp in Spain
- Undercard fighter Brandon Glanton threatens to give Chris Billam-Smith 'brain damage'
- Eubank Jr and Benn clash on Saturday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where press conference was held
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn get deep on ‘pain and pressure’ as rivalry grows again
21:30 , Will CastleChris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are writing a story built on pressure versus pain.
After the fireworks of February, today’s final press conference at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was a much more “parliamentary” affair. There were no eggs, no fisticuffs, nothing of the like. Instead, it felt like both bruisers, locked in an inherited rivalry, are fully committed to settling this in the ring and only the ring.
Much has been made of the weight chosen for the bout. Benn, 28, is moving up two divisions from welterweight, something that has more than drawn the ire of Chris Sr, who has branded the fight a “disgrace” in fear his son could end up doing serious and permanent damage to his much smaller opponent. But facing the prospect of a unique rehydration clause that will lead Eubank Jr, 35, into “unchartered waters”, it’s the natural middleweight that is feeling the agony.
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn get deep on ‘pain and pressure’ as rivalry grows again
Eubank Jr vs Benn prize money
21:15 , Will CastleWhile the official figures have not been disclosed, it has been reported that the prize money on offer for Eubank Jr vs Benn sits at £18m.
The purse split is believed to be 60-40 in favour of Eubank Jr, meaning Benn will earn approximately £2m less than his opponent.
Eubank Jr vs Benn prize money: How much will the fighters earn?
What weight is Eubank Jr vs Benn being fought at?
21:00 , Will CastleA lot has been made of the weight class chosen for Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn.
The fight is being fought at middleweight (160lbs), with Benn required to move up two divisions from welterweight (147lbs) to fight Eubank Jr. This is up from the weight limit of 157lbs agreed for the initial fight in 2022, before it was cancelled.
Eubank Jr is a natural middleweight and has also competed at super-middleweight (168lbs), so will possess the weight advantage.
However, there is also a hydration clause that will restrict either man from weighing more than 170lbs on fight night.
Eubank Jr vs Benn weight class and rehydration clause explained
Nigel Benn defends Chris Eubank Jr after father’s ‘disgrace’ comments
20:45 , Alex PattleLast night, Nigel Benn defended Chris Eubank Jr over his father’s comments, after Sr said this weekend’s fight with Conor Benn is a “disgrace”.
On Saturday, Eubank Jr will face Conor at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, more than 30 years after Nigel and Eubank Sr rounded out their own in-ring rivalry.
Nigel will be in his son’s corner, but Eubank Sr is expected to be absent after condemning the match-up and hitting out at Jr for slapping Conor with an egg in February.
Nigel Benn defends Chris Eubank Jr after father’s ‘disgrace’ comments
Inside the mind games of Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn’s grudge match
20:30 , Charlotte-Marie FordOver three decades since their fathers first went toe-to-toe, the roles of psychological warfare have been reversed as Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn finally meet in the ring to settle their grudge match this weekend.
During a press conference in Manchester it was Chris Eubank Jr who tried to get in opponent Conor Benn’s head, inciting chaos on stage as he slapped Benn around the face with an egg.
The reference to the two drugs test Benn failed in 2022 shows how their rivalry has evolved into something much deeper, further fuelling the intensity of their upcoming showdown.
Inside the mind games of Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn’s grudge match
Eubank Jr vs Benn press conference wrapped up
20:13 , Alex PattleThat’s all from the stage tonight, but we’ll keep you covered with plenty of content around the fight as the night goes on.
Will Castle will also have a report from the stadium.
Eubank Jr and Benn end press conference with intense face-off
19:52We close the show with an intense face-off between the boxers.
Security guards slowly draw the boxers away from each other. The fighters are trading a few jibes, though. Benn looks so fierce.
Benn coy on reports of Billy Joe Saunders role on fight night
19:49A report earlier today suggested that Benn has asked Billy Joe Saunders – one of Eubank Jr’s old opponents – to check Jr’s hand wraps on Saturday.
Benn is coy on the topic.
“I’m coming to take his head off,” he says plainly, later on.
We then get Eubank Jr bringing up his £1m bet with Hearn, who kind of swerves the topic while getting back on stage.
Eubank Jr speaks of pain and loss
19:47Benn says “all the rubbish he wants to talk” is “irrelevant”. “We’re not in school.”
“You are gonna be in school on Saturday night,” Eubank Jr retorts. “I’ll be the headmaster and you’ll be in detention.”
Benn: “You are funny, Chris, you do make me laugh.”
Eubank Jr is asked about his weight-cut and says: “The weight is painful, I’m in pain right now. I’ll be in even more pain tonight and tomorrow morning--”
“And the worst pain you’ve ever been in, Saturday night,” Benn interjects.
Eubank Jr continues: “But the question I ask myself is, ‘What is pain?’
“I have a 31-year-old brother, he is buried in the desert in Dubai. That’s pain. I have his son Raheem, three years old, he asks: ‘Why can’t I see my daddy, why can’t he take me to school?’ That’s pain.
“My own father, a man I idolised for my entire life, doesn’t speak to me. We haven’t spoken for years. He thinks I’m a disgrace.
“These things are what pain is to me. If I can deal with all of these trials and tribulations, then the weight-cut and the rehydration clause... these are all things that are not an issue.”
He adds he has a “duty” to boxing and the public to beat Benn.
Eubank Jr: “Conor speaks about pressure and dealing with it, but there’s a reason why he had his training camp in Spain. The kid had to flee his own country to prepare for this fight.
“He knew that he couldn’t handle the pressure of walking these UK streets and having people shout ‘drug cheat’ and egg jokes.
“So, he hid himself away. Now he’s back and thinks he can use me to get back into the good graces. I haven’t fled, I’ve been on these streets, I’ve been and spoken to kids.”
Eubank Jr says most of what he’s heard from fans has been positive, which is unusual for him.
“I think he’s feeling the pressure, the heat, and he’s gonna feel a hell of a lot more on Saturday night.”
Nigel Benn spills stories on Conor's sparring sessions
19:38 , Alex PattleNigel Benn: “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. What happens in Mallorca, I’m telling.
“With God as my witness, first he started sparring with Denzel Bentley – super-middleweight but really at light-heavy. Had his hands full with Conor.
“Then he was sparring with the guy who knocked out [Jaime] Munguia, Bruno [Surace]. Conor was bullying him.
“And then to put the cherry on top, he started sparring with a guy called William Scull – the IBF champion – who’s fighting a week after Conor [against Canelo].
“Shouldn’t say [this], but for the last two years, all I’ve been hearing is negativity about my son.
“First four rounds, it was even stevens, they were shouting ‘perfecto’. After eight rounds, he quit.”
Nigel adds: “I’m so confident this isn’t going past four rounds.”
Chris Eubank forces Eddie Hearn to tag out for Frank Smith
19:33 , Alex Pattle“Eeeeeddddiiiieeee,” Eubank Jr says as usual, as soon as Hearn opens his mouth.
He refuses to let Hearn speak, though the promoter manages to shout: “I can’t wait for [Conor] to smash you to pieces on Saturday night.”
Hearn tags out for colleague Frank Smith, who jogs onto the stage.
“Frank,” Eubank Jr says, “if I’m not letting Eddie speak, do you think I’m gonna let you speak?”
“I’m gonna be very quick,” Smith says.
“You are going to be quick,” Eubank Jr interjects, “because you’re not going to say anything.”
Eubank Jr continues to interrupt the Matchroom man.
Ben Shalom drops fun stat on Eubank Jr vs Benn
19:30 , Alex PattleWhen Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn fought for the final time, in October 1993, it was the month Ben Shalom was born!
Chris Eubank Jr arrives on stage
19:29 , Alex Pattle
Conor Benn arrives on stage
19:28
The Ring CEO Rick Reeno talks big game
19:23Before we hear from the promoters, fighters and coaches, we have some spiel from The Ring’s Rick Reeno.
A reminder that The Ring, recently bought by Saudi matchmaker Turki Al-Sheikh, is staging this card.
Reeno is talking a big game, accusing most promoters of putting on “garbage” events. He even suggests he’s taking a dig at one/both of the promoters on the stage.
Eubank Jr and Benn take to the stage at last
19:14 , Alex PattleAnd here come Eubank Jr and Benn, at long last. Michael Buffer introduces the fighters. Security guards are lining the stage.
Benn cuts a calmer figure than at previous press conferences with Eubank Jr. He sings along to his walkout song for a moment, and offers a smile.
Eubank Jr, who has the tougher weight cut, asks for some water after walking out to “Still D.R.E.”.
Brandon Glanton threatens to give Chris Billam-Smith ‘brain damage’ in shocking insult
19:08 , Alex PattleHere’s a closer look at the hostility between Glanton and (the admittedly calmer) Billam-Smith:
Eubank Jr vs Benn undercard fighter threatens to give opponent ‘brain damage’
Undercard press conference complete – Eubank Jr and Benn up next
18:57That’s the end of the undercard press conference, with Billam-Smith seemingly offering a warning to Glanton during their face-off, after their earlier exchange on stage.
Next up, Eubank Jr and Benn will take to the podium.
Liam Smith mocks Aaron McKenna over southpaw practice
18:52Smith takes the mick out of McKenna for practising in a southpaw stance at the open workouts. Safe to say the Scouser, 36, was not impressed by the Irishman, 25.
Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur prepare for trilogy bout
18:48On Saturday, Yarde and Arthur will clash for the third time, having traded wins in the past.
Yarde admits he’s still frustrated by his 2020 split-decision loss to Arthur, despite knocking him out in four rounds in their rematch in 2021.
Arthur predicts: “I think I’ll stop him late, to be honest.”
Yarde: “When I got into this sport, I wanted to be entertaining. I want to be as exciting as I’ve ever been.”
Brandon Glanton targets Cheavon Clarke now
18:38 , Alex PattleGlanton is now getting into it with fellow cruiserweight Clarke, but much of what he’s saying is being censored.
“We’ve been walking around all week, buddy, and you ain’t said nothing,” Clarke says.
“You better watch your mouth, boy,” the American hits back.
“Who you calling ‘boy’?” Clarke asks.
Here’s our interview with Clarke from this week:
Cheavon Clarke denies being under ‘pressure’ ahead of Viddal Riley showdown
Brandon Glanton aims shocking insult at Chris Billam-Smith
18:32 , Alex PattleCBS is asked what he’s done to upset Glanton, and CBS says he doesn’t know. “I’m sure he’ll tell everyone in a minute, he’s told everyone else”.
Glanton: “He knows exactly where that energy came from, Chris is a b***h, it’s just plain and simple.
“I didn’t plan on getting much into it, but at the media workout in 2023, when [Lawrence] Okolie and Billam fought, he was very disrespectful.
“Obviously everyone knows I was there in support for Okolie. I was sticking my hand out, and [Chris] walked right past me.
“His son has a b***h for a father. I don’t care about these lights, these cameras, I’m gonna f*** you up. I’m gonna give you brain damage, dog.”
CBS: “I’ll leave all the talking to Saturday.”
Not what you want to hear there, from Glanton. Too much.
Eddie Hearn talk up Saturday's event
18:28 , Alex PattleAs is common, we kick things off with some words from the promoters: Eddie Hearn and Ben Shalom.
Well, actually, Hearn speaks and then Shalom is told by host Jamie Ward that he’ll have to wait until later to talk – if he gets to speak at all! Odd.
Clarke sports Arsenal shirt in response to Riley's Tottenham fandom
18:22 , Alex PattleBrandon Glanton and Chris Billam-Smith arrive first, before Spurs fan Viddal Riley and his opponent Cheavon Clarke, who is wearing an Arsenal shirt...
Now Aaron McKenna and Liam Smith join their colleagues, as do Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur.
Here’s our exclusive interview with Viddal Riley on what it’s like for a Spurs fan to train at West Ham Boxing Club – and much more:
Viddal Riley on coaching KSI, boxing with broken ribs, and his Spurs dream
Undercard fighters take to the stage
18:20Here’s a reminder of Saturday’s short but stacked card, as the undercard boxers arrive on stage:
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn (middleweight)
Anthony Yarde vs Lyndon Arthur (light-heavyweight)
Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna (middleweight)
Chris Billam-Smith vs Brandon Glanton (cruiserweight)
Viddal Riley vs Cheavon Clarke (cruiserweight)
Press conference about to begin at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
18:12Darren Barker on Eubank Jr’s tactics:
“He kind of free-balls, he goes with the flow, he adapts.
“He’s always high energy, he never really fades much, he throws a lot of shots. Gameplan-wise, I think it’s about using that size wisely.”
Barker also says he expects this bout to be “100mph”. So many people have said that, it almost makes you wonder if it’ll be electric for two rounds and then slow down...
In any case, Conor Benn has arrived! Here he is, courtesy of our man on the ground, Will Castle:
T-minus 7 minutes until the press conference begins!
17:53 , Alex PattleWe’re just moments away from the start of this press conference.
What can we expect today? More creative insults? More yolk in the face? Any physical exchanges?
Let’s hope for nothing that could threaten the fight. Of course, there’s so much money involved that surely no scrap today could thwart Saturday’s match-up, but there’s Chris Eubank Sr’s voice ringing in our heads: guaranteeing the fight won’t go ahead...
Here’s Will Castle’s view:
How Eubank Jr and Benn are continuing a family tradition of sacrifice and hate
17:40 , Alex PattleWho better to preview Eubank Jr vs Benn than a man who was at BOTH of their fathers’ clashes in the 1990s?
Steve Bunce must be one of very few people who was at both bouts and will be present on Saturday, as the sons square off at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Here’s Buncey on why genuine animosity between fighters captures the attention like nothing else:
Why the ‘hate’ between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn may never lift
Conor Benn gets wish granted for smaller ring to guarantee ‘tear-up’ with Chris Eubank Jr
17:20 , Will CastleConor Benn has had his demand of fighting Chris Eubank Jr in a smaller ring granted to guarantee of a ‘tear-up’ between the two born-rivals.
Benn and Eubank Jr will square off in a much-anticipated British boxing showdown on Saturday night, more than thirty years on from when their legendary fathers, Nigel and Chris Sr, settled their own bitter in-ring grudge.
Benn, 28, comes up two weight divisions to fight Eubank Jr and fulfil his destiny of facing the son of his father’s greatest rival, sacrificing the comfort of his preferred class of welterweight.
But after bowing to the requests of natural middleweight Eubank Jr, 35, over that specific issue, Benn has had a wish of his own accepted after demanding an 18-foot ring for the fight, which is smaller than standard.
Benn gets wish granted for smaller ring to guarantee ‘tear-up’ with Eubank Jr
WBC backs winner of Eubank Jr vs Benn to fight Canelo Alvarez
17:10 , Will CastleThe WBC has backed the winner of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn to become the next challenger of super-middleweight champion Canelo Alvarez.
"Both are ranked, have been highly ranked for many years and are top level in the sport. A fight for the championship is doable," WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman told Sky Sports when asked if the winner of Eubank vs Benn could face Alvarez.
"Canelo has embarked on a new stage of his career. He will fight in Riyadh and is then scheduled to fight in Las Vegas and the winner this Saturday is going to be a major player in boxing worldwide, certainly."
WBC backs winner of Eubank Jr vs Benn to fight Canelo Alvarez
