By Jack Tiernan: Promoter Barry Hearn says he thinks the Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn fight “will happen,” and he sees it as an “enormous” fight where both guys will make a fortune from it.
It’s believed the delay in the Eubank Jr-Benn fight from being made it the need to agree on a catchweight that both fighters and their management agree on. The contest could take place at either 156 or 157-lb regions.
For the 25-year-old welterweight Benn (21-0, 14 KOs), he’ll need to come up in weight nine or ten lbs from his usual 147. It won’t be a problem for Conor because he’s adding weight so that he won’t be weakened by the move up.
The 32-year-old former IBO super middleweight champion Eubank Jr. (32-2, 23 KOs) is the one that could be negatively affected by the catchweight because he campaigns at 160.
If Chris Jr has to lose an additional four lbs to get down to 156, it could weaken him and put him at risk of getting beaten up by the heavy-handed Benn.
The lack of experience against quality opposition is the real worry for Benn because he’s never fought contenders at 147, and it’s a considerable risk for him to go up against one of the best at 160.
“I think it will happen, and I think it’s an enormous fight, an enormous,” said Barry Hearn to SlothBoxx about the Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn mega-fight.
“We talk about backdrop stories. Can you imagine Eubank and Benn, the old men [Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank] behind them, and the whole country remembering the 18 and a half million people that watched their first and second fights in 1990 and in then Manchester United after that?
“If this happens, this is a massive fight. It’s a tough fight for both boys. Eubank Jr is the naturally bigger man. But when I watch Conor, he reminds me so much of his dad. He’s dangerous.
“Listen, we’re fight fans. We’re going to sit down, sit back, and be royally entertained, and the lads are going to make a fortune. Good luck to them. Some press conferences. Pay-per-view just for the press conferences,” said Hearn.
“I think Conor Benn is the underdog,” said Gareth A Davies to talkSPORT Boxing about his belief that Eubank Jr will be the favorite.
“If you look at the level that Chris Eubank Jr has fought at, he’s only lost to Billy Joe Saunders on points. That was a way, way ago, nine years ago now. He [Eubank Jr] lost to George Groves in a 168 lbs at super middleweight] [in February 2018]. Those were his only two losses.
“I think he’d give Canelo a great fight and give GGG a great fight at middleweight. I think he’s the favorite, but he’s going to have to lose. He’s got an incredibly terse body; he’s really ripped.
“How he loses another six, seven pounds, I don’t know. Conor Benn won’t have to lose weight, but he is the naturally smaller man,” said Davies.
