‘I Hate Him’: Conor Benn Does Not Hold Back As Generational Rivalry Comes Back To The Ring

Conor Benn (23-0, 14 KOs) is out for vengeance.

‘The Destroyer’ will face long-time rival Chris Eubank Jr. (34-3, 25 KOs) in a highly anticipated showdown in London on April 26. This rivalry is certainly not new, making it a culmination of the years of beef between their fathers, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr., and it sure seems that this generational rivalry is spilling into the ring.

The duo was recently on Matchroom Boxing’s ‘Inside Look.’ In conversation, Benn was asked if he hated Eubank Jr. “I’d say I hate him, yeah. He wasn’t my cup of tea then, neither now,” he said.

On the other hand, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn believes that this hatred is why their matchup works so well.

“Well, this is a rivalry that spans generations. They are their fathers’ sons, and we’re just kicking off where we left off. Conor Benn really grew up disliking the Eubanks,” he said.

Notably, their fathers, Nigel Benn and Eubank Sr., first fought each other in 1990 at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham. Benn lost to Eubank Jr. via a 9th-round TKO, losing his WBO middleweight title in the process. They fought again almost 3 years later, but the fight ended in a draw.

“Most thought he (Benn) won and never got to put it right in a third fight. So, this is Eubank vs Benn 3. This fight just worked, and we were days away from one of the biggest fights in British boxing,” he said.

“Don’t Talk”

Benn will be moving up from welterweight to middleweight in order to face Eubank Jr. However, this did not sit well with Eubank Sr., who called the entire fight a spectacle.

Eubank Sr’s words were sure to leave a bad taste in Hearn’s mouth, and the promoter was quick to defend the matchup.

“For me, Chris Eubank Sr is talking negatively about the fight because of how he feels about not being involved or the center of attention, if I’m completely honest,” Hearn said while talking to Stomping Ground. “Chris Eubank Sr was a middleweight who was mainly a career super middleweight who fought at light heavyweight and fought at cruiserweight. Don’t talk about not moving up the weights.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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