Benn claims redemption against out-of-sorts rival
Judges score it 119-107, 116-110, 118-108
Conor Benn, who has been through notoriety, shame and a chastening defeat, finally gained a large measure of sweet relief when he totally outclassed and beat up his diminished old rival Chris Eubank Jr over 12 one-sided rounds on Saturday night. Benn came close to sealing the knockout he craved in the last minute of the fight when he twice dropped Eubank Jr heavily.
A shuddering combination from Benn had an initially delayed reaction but the right hand that smashed into the side of Eubank Jr’s head finally sent him toppling to the canvas. He rose to his feet but was soon down again as Benn threw punch after punch at his wilting and shrunken frame. Eubank Jr staggered to his feet just before the referee completed his count. The fight would surely have been waved over – but the last bell echoed above the bedlam.
The wait for the scorecards was a formality as Benn was declared the overwhelming winner by margins of 119-107, 116-110 and 118-108. He was exultant as beating Eubank Jr in crushing style followed a grim three years for a complicated and sometimes haunted man who tested positive twice for clomifene in 2022 and then lost a wild and testing battle against Eubank seven months ago. But he had stressed this week that he would be much more clinical and disciplined in the rematch.
