The British star faces the toughest test of his career next weekend, but believes defeat for his rival in North London could spell the end for him
Conor Benn has insisted long-time rival Chris Eubank Jr will have to retire should he lose their blockbuster grudge match.
The pair are scheduled to go head-to-head on Saturday, April 26 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Eubank and Benn were originally due to fight in October 2022, but the clash was cancelled just a few days before fight night after Benn failed a drugs test.
Since the fight was rebooked, the pair have traded barbs on multiple occasions. Eubank Jr sparked chaotic scenes at the launch press conference in Manchester after slapping his upcoming rival in the face with an egg. Following the stunning scenes, it led to their subsequent face-off being cancelled amid security concerns.
With a little over a week to go until fight night, Benn has ramped up the war of words and is adamant his bitter rival will retire should he lose in North London next weekend. In an interview with Sky Sports, the 28-year-old said: «When he losses, he has to retire. I don’t understand why at this stage of his career why he chooses to fight a welterweight over a world title.»
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The British boxing star added: «I can drop back down and go and get my world title, no problem. I’ll go fight for the WBC title, the WBA, WBO, I think I’m top ranked, top five in almost every governing body. But for him, he’s chasing one thing and that’s the difference between me and him.»
When asked could he live with losing to Eubank Jr, Benn confidently replied: «No, I couldn’t. I’ve not lost. I’m undefeated. He will not be my first loss. That man I refuse to lose to.» Benn is set to move up two weight classes for the showdown with his long-time rival, but remains confident that he’ll get the job done on fight night.
Eubank Jr’s dad, believes Benn is putting himself in serious danger by fighting 14lbs above his preferred weight class and is also doing whatever he can to persuade his son not to take part in the fight. “It’s a slap in Michael’s face,” he told iFL TV. “ Stand up for him by not going along with the nonsense and the circus that’s been created for this farce of a fight, which is between one fighter who is at two or three weights above the smaller guy. The smaller guy in Conor Benn has had his career destroyed for one fight. My son coming down from 168lbs to 160lbs puts his life in danger.
“My son is having to boil himself down to 160lbs. Three years ago, they were talking about him coming down 157lbs. This is daylight murder. and when I say murder, you say that’s a bit too strong. Yes, my brother died at the hands of the promoters – 20 losses and 27 fights, being brought in as fodder. I’m speaking from experience, it’s real for me. My brother died, frontal lobe dementia – the promoters are responsible for that.
“We have to protect the fighters and the biggest example of this is Michael Watson. I am so hurt by what’s happened to him and this is the situation they’re putting my son in now. They’re destroying Conor’s career if they haven’t already destroyed it. This is a disgrace, and if you don’t think this is a disgrace, fight me. I said it and you all need to say it to actually make the Boxing Board of Control do something. We can’t run amok. We are not a country of baboons.”
