Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn is official, and I’ll be honest, I can’t believe that this fight is happening. To take the greatest rivalry in British boxing, possibly all of boxing, and pass it onto their sons 30 years later, this is just extraordinary and with the people involved, I think we’re going to see an incredible event from start to finish.
Let’s not make no mistakes, Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn absolutely despised each other and I'm not sure whether those feelings ever changed if I’m being honest. I was just a kid when those fights happened, but I can remember the buzz, especially the second one as I was a little older, and you knew you were dealing with two special characters.
For anyone who isn't aware of what went down, you’re likely to get a decent sample when the hype kicks off, and although this fight is about the younger fighters, it’s their old men that laid the foundations for this. If Chris and Conor can deliver half the action that their fathers provided, then we’re in for a classic.
For me, this is one of the biggest fights that can be made in boxing now. Their fathers were two brilliant warriors with contrasting personalities and styles, and although their grudge was a domestic one, it was a series that made the world pay attention. This fight will be no different. People may talk about the weight difference, but they’ll be glued to their screens on October 8th.
Both fighters deserve the highest credit for taking the fight because so much is on the line. I hear so much stuff about Benn having nothing to lose but when there’s a chance you might suffer defeat, you’re risking a lot. Conor will be the lowest man about if he fails to beat Eubank, and his opponent will feel the exact same. Losing in boxing is a horrible feeling and neither man will want to experience it.
I’m not going to make a prediction on the fight now as there’s still a long way to go in the build-up, but you will be hearing from me on fight week, and you’ll get my pick then. For now, I want to see both men giving it their all in the gym as they look to protect their family name and add another chapter to the Eubank/Benn story. Get ready because this fight is going to be something else.