Roy Jones Jr wants to see Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn fight again. The boxing legend shared his thoughts on their potential rematch in a recent interview.
Jones Jr, who used to train Eubank Jr, praised both fighters for their performances in their first encounter. The fight took place in April at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, where Eubank Jr won by unanimous decision after 12 rounds of back-and-forth action.
Speaking to Poker Scout, Jones Jr explained why he's glad he wasn't involved in the first fight:
"Why would I be disappointed [not to have been involved in Eubank-Benn]? That had nothing to do with me. That's a fight generated by the two dads, and it turned out to be a good fight."
He added that his absence might have made the fight more exciting:
"Honestly, it's probably best if I didn't participate. If I had, it might not have been as good a fight for either side — my skill level is different, you understand me? If I'd been with Chris and made him do a few things differently, he would've destroyed Benn. And if I'd been with Benn and made him adjust, it could've been a problem for Chris."
Jones Jr expressed his desire to see a rematch, which is currently under discussion for September. He praised both fighters for their toughness and skill:
"I do [want to see the rematch], I really do. You've got to think about it — the smaller guy did a lot. Benn took a lot of punishment — straight shots on the chin — from a legitimate middleweight, and he started at 140. He did 147, but started at 140. For Benn to take those shots and keep coming like he did, that said a lot. And for Chris to dig deep, lose the weight, and do what he did — that said a lot too."
Jones Jr's enthusiasm for the rematch contrasts with the opinion of another boxing great, Carl Froch. Froch doesn't think the rematch will happen, believing one of the fighters won't want it to take place.
Eubank Jr is now working with trainer Jonathan Banks, while Benn looks to build on his impressive performance in their first encounter. Fans will have to wait and see if the rematch materializes, but Jones Jr, for one, is hopeful.
"I'm glad they had such a good fight, and I hope the second one's even more entertaining,"Jones Jr concluded.
