Across the pond - Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn surpass expectations

Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn.

Former world champions.

Their two fights from the ’90s were barnburners. They should have fought again, but it didn’t happen. They both have sons who box.

The sons (Chris Jr. and Conor) have never won world titles. They can fight some, but their dads were better. 

Chris Jr. and Conor met last Saturday in what many considered a sideshow. It was hard not to think that way when celebrity lookalikes displayed the round number every three minutes. You can’t make this up.

The boys took center stage and delivered the goods.

Their fight was electric, skillful, and exciting. Eubank Jr. jabbed and jabbed, while Benn fired big shots. Both smiled, but it wasn’t friendly. More disdainful. Halfway through the fight, it was close. Eubank, older, found another gear down the stretch to win the bout by unanimous decision. Many are calling it an early frontrunner for Fight of the Year. 

The preliminary fights were good, if not spectacular.

Cruiserweights Chris Billam Smith and Brandon Glanton went 12 gritty rounds, with Billam Smith winning unanimously. Glanton brought a feeling of disrespect into the fight. Some of his comments before the fight were unnecessary. Still, Billam Smith apologized after the bout. 

Liam Smith looked confident as he made his way to the ring. He smiled, as did his brothers behind him. Smith probably figured as a former world champion, the younger McKenna was biting off more than he could chew.

Reasonable, but unfortunately for Smith, the 12 rounds he spent with McKenna were not enjoyable. McKenna drew blood and beat Smith up.

Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur went at it for the third time. Arthur won the first in an upset four years ago. Yarde served up some revenge by knocking Arthur out in the rematch.

The third fight was a technical affair. Arthur jabbed while Yarde eventually figured out how to counter it. The key was his physicality. Late in the fight, he forced Arthur to the ropes and drilled him. Arthur fought back, but Yarde had the edge.

The judges agreed.