Chris Eubank Jr. says he has everything ready on his side to score a KO of Conor Benn on Saturday night at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England. Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs) looked as shredded as a julienne salad at the ceremonial weigh-in on Friday, weighing in at 159.1 pounds compared to Benn’s 159.3 pounds.
(Credit: Mark Robinson)
Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) has come of age since their first fight on April 26, 2025. For that meet, Conor weighed in at 156 1/2 lbs. He ended up facing Eubank Jr. lost by 12 12-round unanimous decision with the scores 116-112, 116-112 and 116-112.
Rerun of April’s Mauling?
Benn ended up royally maimed in that fight. Eubank Jr. was like a tiger tearing Benn apart in the championship rounds, forcing him into a submissive role by frequently pinning him down to survive. It was interesting to see how Conor’s attitude slowly changed over the course of the fight.
When Eubank Jr. Benn forced to hold on to survive
When Eubank Jr. not wilting from the fodder Benn fought at welterweight, he fell apart internally and was forced to hold excessively to keep from being knocked out in the championship rounds. Conor looked like a mentally broken soldier who could no longer handle being on the battlefield. He lost it at the top and went to pieces from rounds 10 to 12.
The difference was the speed, punch output, inside fighting ability and conditioning of Eubank Jr. which led to his victory. The extra weight that Benn, 29, has put on for this fight is a knee-jerk reaction to his defeat. He obviously attributes his loss to his lack of size. Brought up Benn because he was killed by Eubank Jr. is broken? It’s hard not to see that as the primary force behind Conor making weight for this fight. He worked out in his head that if he put on weight, he would win.
The reality is that Benn’s defense was mainly the result of his inability to stop the non-stop combinations that Eubank Jr. threw, to fit. There aren’t too many fighters from 147 to 160 that can take the rain of punches that Chris Jr. threw last April, could not resist. Is Benn still the same fighter forced to hold on to survive? If anything, Benn will be more vulnerable than he was in the first fight because the weight he foolishly packed on will be like an anchor, slowly dragging him down into the murky depths where the pressure will crush him on Saturday night. He can’t join Eubank Jr. didn’t fit, and whatever chance he had, he blew it by bulging.
Benn’s Bulk-Up Backfires
As such, Benn made the wrong decision to pack up for this fight because what he needed was to come in lighter so he could beat Eubank Jr. blow for fist could fit.
“I’m just looking forward to getting in there and doing the business and putting on a great show for the fans,” Conor Benn said DAZN Boxing at the ceremonial weigh-in today. “I’m a welterweight, but for this fight I want to come in heavy and come in at the weight that I am,” Benn said when asked about coming in heavier than in his previous fight.
Benn can only give it his best shot. It probably won’t work because he hasn’t had enough time to make the massive changes to his game that he needs to beat Eubank Jr. to defeat. Like Chris Jr. pointed out, he was “born and bred” to be the fighter that he is. He is right. Eubank Jr. was born to be the fighter that he is, and that is not something that can be taught.
“Chris can do whatever he wants. I’m not worried about him and what he’s doing. Ultimately, I’m fighting at middleweight. So, I’m coming in at middleweight,” said a defensive-sounding Benn, who was starting to lose his temper over a simple question.
Eubank Jr. ‘s “Born and Bred” confidence
“Everything is on track for a Chris Eubank Jr. KO win,” says Eubank Jr. “I was born and bred to fight. I can’t wait to go out tomorrow and show the world what I’m made of. This fight is going to be a fight of the decade contender.”
Last updated on 14/11/2025
