Conor Benn vs. Chris Eubank Jr close for June 3 in Abu Dhabi

By Boxing News - 03/27/2023 - Comments

By Jake Tiernan: The British clash between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr is back on for June 3rd in Abu Dhabi, UAE and is reportedly “close” to an announcement being made for the fight, which would take place at the middleweight limit at 160-lbs rather than the 157-lb catchweight that their canceled previously scheduled clash last October.

Eubank Jr was supposed to have been fighting a rematch with Liam Smith, who knocked him out in the fourth round last January.

It’s a bad look on Eubank Jr’s part if he takes the fight with Benn without first avenging his loss to Liam first. Surely, there would be more money in a Benn-Eubank Jr fight if Eubank Jr got revenge against Smith first.

What message does that tell fans that Eubank Jr isn’t at least going to attempt to avenge his loss ‘Beefy’ Smith first before rescheduling the Conor Benn fight?

It’s still too early to know if the Benn vs. Eubank Jr fight will be shown on DAZN pay-per-view for their June 3rd rescheduled fight.

“CONOR BENN and Chris Eubank Jr is close to being announced for Abu Dhabi on June 3,” said Wally Downes Jr to The Sun Sport.

Benn refused to explain the red flags to the British Boxing Board of Control, so the rearranged clash is heading for the Middle East.

“Eubank Jr looked painfully thin, boiling down to the 157 lbs limit last year, so the controversial second attempt is expected to happen at the middleweight limit of 160 lbs,” said Downes.

British fans will obviously be willing to pay to see this fight in large numbers, but U.S. boxing fans are not likely to be eager to watch this match, and it has nothing to do with Benn’s two positive tests for clomifene.

Benn’s short career resume is paper thin, filled with primarily unknown opposition with a tiny handful of older, washed-up fighters consisting of this bunch: Chris Algieri, Adrian Granados, Samuel Vargas, and Chris Van Heerden.

Nevertheless, British fans have embraced Benn, flocking to watch his fights in large numbers and viewing him as a future star despite having never proven himself against top-tier opposition. Even if he beats Eubank Jr, Benn will still have never defeated a top name because Chris Jr is a domestic-level fighter, not a world-class level.

The 33-year-old Eubank Jr (32-3, 23 KOs) has never established himself as a truly world-class fighter and has NEVER won a world title in his 12-year professional career.

The Benn-Eubank Jr is taking place in Abu Dhabi due to the UK because of 26-year-old Benn’s decision not to meet with the British Boxing Board of Control to explain the circumstances around his two positive tests to clear himself.

Had Benn done that and given the BBBofC a suitable explanation for why he came up positive, it’s possible that he could have been cleared,  which would have allowed his fight with Eubank Jr to take place in the UK.

Benn and Eubank Jr, two sons of famous British fighters that have carved out a nice living fighting a mix of fringe, old & domestic opposition in the UK, had been set to fight on October 8th in a pay-per-view bout on DAZN, but the contest was scrapped in light of Conor testing positive twice for the banned substance clomifene.  Subsequently, the BBBofC didn’t allow the fight to occur due to the positive tests.

There’s plenty of time for Benn and Eubank Jr to promote their fight to get boxing fans interested in ordering it on PPV. It’s unclear how well Benn will handle the media questions about his positive tests for clomifene.

It would be interesting to know if there was a huge site fee paid by a person or organization in Abu Dhabi to stage the Benn vs. Eubank Jr fight over there.