Conor Benn has opened up about his fight with Chris Eubank Jr at a packed Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend. The long-awaited clash between the generational rivals ended with Eubank Jr winning by unanimous decision, all three judges scoring it 116-112.
Benn and Eubank Jr went at it for 12 rounds in an attritional fight. Both boxers threw big shots from the start, with Benn, the smaller fighter, winning the early exchanges. As the fight went on, Eubank Jr got a foothold and used his size advantage.
The weight difference was a major talking point. Eubank Jr failed to make the 160lbs limit twice and is under investigation for allegedly using a sauna to help make weight.
In a post-fight interview, Benn shared his thoughts on the size difference:
"I obviously felt outsized. But we prepared for that. In the second half of the fight, I could see he started to tire. He worked smarter, used his experience to smother me. He fell in, tried to pin me against the ropes, and let his hands go."
Despite the size disadvantage, Benn maintained he was never really hurt during the fight. He even believes he won the fight by as little as a round.
The fight was almost two and a half years in the making. Originally scheduled to take place earlier, it got postponed, adding to the anticipation.
Looking ahead, Benn has options. He could push for a rematch with Eubank Jr to try and avenge the loss. Alternatively, he might return to welterweight to compete for a legitimate world title. Potential opponents at that weight include Mario Barrios and Jaron 'Boots' Ennis.
Whatever path Benn chooses, his performance against a larger opponent has certainly turned some heads in the boxing world.
