Papa’s Chris Sr. and Nigel boxed twice in the 1990s.
It’s not a title fight, but the Chris Eubank Jr. against Conor Benn match fascinates, mostly because of the history.
Not the fighters’ history, but their dads.
Papa’s Chris Sr. and Nigel boxed twice in the 1990s. The fights bristled before and during. Opposite in style in dress and boxing style, Eubank Sr. and Benn brought the heat, fighting 21 give-and-take rounds.
Eubank Sr. won the first fight by stoppage. The second was a draw, though Benn and many others thought he deserved the decision.
Now the sons, neither as gifted as their fathers, battle this Saturday at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London.
Eubank Jr., more experienced and bigger, is favored to defeat Benn. Eubank (34-3, 25 KOs) was also the bigger fighter when he suffered one of his losses to Liam Smith two years ago. He avenged the loss a month later.
Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) is seven years younger than his opponent. He was last seen in the ring winning a decision over Peter Dobson in 2024.
Also on the card, former champion Smith takes on youthful Aaron McKenna. In a sense, it’s the classic older fighter meeting the younger upstart. Smith is 36. How much does he have left? McKenna is 25. Is he biting off more than he can chew?
Anthony Yarde (26-3, 24 KOs) fights Lyndon Arthur (24-2, 16 KOs) for the third time in a light heavyweight scrap. Arthur edged Yarde back in 2020. Yarde avenged the loss with a definitive knockout a year later.
The contest is looked at as a stay relevant fight.