Tony Bellew has made a bold prediction about the upcoming fight between Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn. The former cruiserweight world champion thinks Benn won't lose a single round if he keeps up his intensity and punch output.
The fight is set for the upcoming weekend at middleweight (160 lbs). It's a big step up for Benn, who's moving to this weight class for the first time. Eubank Jr, on the other hand, has more experience at this weight and has fought at super-middleweight before.
Eubank Jr comes into the fight with more recent activity and has faced tougher opponents, including world champions. He's known for his durability and high work rate, which could help him in the later rounds.
Benn's recent record is a bit more complicated. Before his suspension in October 2022 for a positive drug test, he had impressive knockout wins over Chris van Heerden and Chris Algieri. Since then, he's had two low-key points wins at 154 lbs.
The move up to 160 lbs raises questions about how it will affect Benn's power and stamina. Many think he'll need to win early before the weight difference starts to show.
Bellew initially predicted Benn would win inside six rounds in a "brutal and vicious" fashion. But he then asked Benn a crucial question:
"How intense and for how long can you do it for?"
Benn's response was confident:
"I can do it for 12 rounds."
This led to Bellew's final, bold prediction:
"You won't lose a single round then. If you can throw a 100 punches a round with the intensity and ferocity, you will not lose a round."
The match-up is tough to predict. The weight difference, Benn's power and stamina at the new weight class, and Eubank's experience and durability will all play key roles in determining the outcome.
