By Craig Daly: Trainer Billy Nelson says Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn aren’t as good as their fathers, Chris Sr and Nigel Benn, were during their careers.
Nelson notes that the rivalry between Nigel and Eubank was a bigger one than their two massive fights in the early 1990s. Moreover, there were world titles on the line for those two fights.
In the case of Eubank Jr (32-2, 23 KOs) and Conor Benn (21-0, 14 KOs), their fight on October 8th won’t have a world title at stake, as neither fighter has ever held one.
Eubank Jr held the IBO 168-lb title from 2017 to 2018, but some boxing fans would argue that’s not one of the prestigious four belts.
Talent-wise, Nigel Benn (42-5-1, 35 KOs) was a far better fighter than his son Conor. The same goes for Chris Eubank Sr. He’s a superior fighter to his son.
“Nothing like their sons, neither of them,” said trainer Billy Nelson to iFL TV about Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank being different fighters than their sons.
“It’s not the spite or the intrigue or their fathers,” Nelson said about the October 8th clash between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn. “Neither son is as good as their fathers.
“The fathers had real dislike for each other, and the two of them were top, top fighters, world champions. Neither of these guys [Conor and Eubank Jr]. One hasn’t even fought for the British title [Conor Benn], and one has won the IBO [Eubank Jr].
“When he’s [Eubank Jr] stepped up to the top level, he’s been beaten by George Groves and Billy Joe Saunders. It’s a big, big fight because of the names. Matchroom has sold them brilliantly.
“Of course, I’ll watch it, but it’ll be nothing like their father’s fights, and I think it’s going to be a very one-sided fight as well. Eubank Jr. He’s got everything his father had. A great chin and a great jab; he puts his shots together well.
“You’ve got Conor, a good up-and-coming fighter, but he’s stepping up nine pounds, and he’s fighting a much naturally bigger guy. Conor has been shown to be vulnerable to his whiskers when he got dropped by a non-punching Frenchman, but he can punch.
“Can he punch hard enough when he’s fighting a super middleweight? I don’t think so. The best fighter of the two is Chris Eubank,” said Nelson.