Paul Smith picks Benn over Eubank Jr. to knock, says Chin is gone

Paul Smith says he picks Conor Benn over Chris Eubank Jr. to defeat in their 12-round rematch on November 15.

Eubank’s declining resistance

Former three-time 168-lb world title challenger Smith believes the 36-year-old Eubank Jr. (35-3, 25 KOs) doesn’t have the punch resistance he once had. Getting hurt by welterweight Benn (23-1, 14 KOs) in their first fight earlier this year on April 26 told Paul all he needed to know about Eubank Jr’s ability to take a shot.

Eubank Jr. won the fight by a 12-round unanimous decision with scores of 116-112, 116-112 and 116-112. But it was a grueling one for him, as his face was badly swollen from the heavy beatings Benn had received. The first seven rounds were especially brutal for Chris Jr., as he was frequently hit by Benn.

It was only after Eubank Jr. took the battle inside that he could neutralize Benn’s power. Benn had no inside game.

Eubank Jr-Benn 2 will meet in the main event on November 15 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Tottenham, in London, England. The event will be shown live on DAZN PPV. The event retails for $59.99 in the US and £24.99 in the UK. The start time is at 11:30 AM ET and 8:30 AM PT.

“I don’t think Eubank has anything left. He’s had a tough career. I felt the same way when he fought my brother Liam. So, I can’t say he’s with ‘BoMac’ now, he’s going to magically improve. He’ll improve, but I think the shot resistance (is gone),” said three-time super middleweight world title challenger Paul Smith. talkSport Boxing on his view that Chris Eubank Jr. has nothing left in his rematch with Conor Benn on November 15.

Eubank Jr. could win if he drags Benn into a war on the inside, as he already showed last time that Conor can’t generate significant power at close range. The combination punch and hand speed advantage of Eubank Jr. is much better than Benn’s pot-fighting style of fighting.

“When Conor Benn was a welterweight, he hurt himself in the last fight. I think the added confidence of Conor Benn knowing that he can hurt him in this fight, with another crack at it,” Smith said.

Benn hits like a middleweight. It is therefore not surprising that he Eubank Jr. didn’t hurt. The combination punch that Eubank Jr. did, however, hurt Benn on several occasions in the championship rounds.

A long career that takes its toll

“It was a very competitive fight, but it shouldn’t have been competitive. Eubank should be way ahead with the weight advantage and the experience he’s had fighting the top names. He’s had a long career. It shouldn’t be close, but the fact that it is tells me everything I need to know about Eubank.