CONOR BENN OUTLINES FUTURE BOUT FOLLOWING IMPRESSIVE WIN OVER EUBANK JR
Conor Benn dominated Chris Eubank Jr., winning nearly every round and scoring two final-round knockdowns. The victory avenges his father Nigel's historic losses and sets Benn up for a WBC welterweight title shot.
Benn sets sights on next challenge - Photo Credit: Getty Images
Shortly after surpassing his well-known father, Conor Benn informed him that he was only getting started.
When Benn defeated a man named Eubank thirty years ago, he succeeded where his father had failed. Before a contentious draw in Manchester three years later, Nigel Benn lost to Chris Sr. in Birmingham in 1990. However, their sons could not argue over the outcome of the sequel because Benn defeated Eubank Jr. on Saturday night.
When compared to the terrible conflict that was given up seven months ago, the second instalment was just a damp squib. At 36, Eubank Jr. realised that this was one battle too many and was a shadow of his former self. Benn, however, dropped Eubank Jr. twice in the last session for good measure and won all but one round with a mature and well-thought-out performance.
Three years after the 29-year-old failed two drug tests in 2022, the feud came to an unexpected end with an embrace in the middle of the ring. Furthermore, Benn is prepared to regain his normal weight and contend for a world championship, whereas Eubank Jr., who will give birth to twin boys the following year, will undoubtedly seriously contemplate quitting.
Benn has been adamant about winning his own WBC title ever since his father gave him the one he earned from Mauro Galvano in 1992. He now proudly displays the award on the wall of his home gym, where it provides daily inspiration. Benn, who gained bulk for his appearance at middleweight, will now spend six months reshaping his body.
Benn will probably be waiting for the winner of the bout when current welterweight champion Mario Barrios defends his green and gold title against Ryan Garcia. "Earning this fight is like earning a world title," Benn stated. "This has been my life for the past three years; it is generational and will live on in history forever.
However, taking home the WBC world title weighs heavily on my heart and head. I would desire to win the same belt that my dad did. I have a dream about it. It would be a moment for me to win the WBC world title and outdo my father in the Eubank-Benn rivalry.
Eubank Jr., on the other hand, acknowledged that he realised he was going to lose for the fourth time in his career as soon as the first round began. He made a cryptic reference to challenges in the build-up in an attempt to explain his performance, but he would not go into further detail. He declared, "I have been through hell and back to get here."" But this night is about Conor, not about me," he stated.
"He put up a fierce battle and did everything he had to do to win. He is a tough guy and a tremendous fighter, and I respect him, so I will not talk about myself. What I was in there was visible to you. I really attempted to discover something once those brilliant lights came on, but it was not there.
CONOR BENN GAINS REVENGE OVER EUBANK JR. WITH POWERFUL PERFORMANCE
Conor Benn dominates Chris Eubank Jr. to settle their families' 35-year feud, winning a wide unanimous decision and scoring two knockdowns in the final round. Benn declared the historic rivalry "over" after his masterful performance.
Conor Benn earns revenge in wide victory - COURTESY/PHOTO
Conor's clinic against Chris Jr. at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium finally gave the Benn family a victory over the Eubanks after 35 years of trying.
Benn outthought, outworked, and out-hustled his larger, more seasoned opponent in the most straightforward victory of the four-fight series between the two and their fighting families.
He then dropped Eubank Jr. twice in the last round, seemingly as a way to cap off the long-running feud. It did not really affect the outcome because he was already miles ahead on the cards, but it did mean that a Benn had sent a Eubank to the canvas for the first time in thirty-five years.
Given Benn's dominance throughout the 12 rounds, it was no surprise that the scorecards were wide when they were presented. John Latham (116–110) and Marcus McDonnell (118–108) had it marginally closer than Howard Foster (119–107).
"How does it feel? Nige, I have one on you! Benn made a joke about Nigel, the Dark Destroyer, to his father.
The Benn-Eubank story seems to be concluding; it is done and done.
It was said that I could not box. How about putting that in your pipe and smoking it?
"This is generational; Chris deserves recognition because it has never been done before. I appreciate you giving me the ring. Not terrible for two affluent children, aren't they?
Before the dads drew at Old Trafford in 1993, this family battle began in 1990 when Eubank Sr. stopped Nigel Benn during their first meeting. On an intense night here at Tottenham in April, when Eubank Jr. had won by a margin of points, the two sons had taken up the role.
They topped The Ring's 'Unfinished Business' program on DAZN PPV seven months later, yet only one winner emerged from the same venue.
The pair's iconic ringwalks sent the boisterous audience into a frenzy, just as they had seven months prior. Benn was the first to jog to the ring with the help of a marching band of drummers, supported by his father Nigel.
However, that was overshadowed by the unexpected appearance of 50 Cent, who rapped next to the frowning Eubank as he made his way slowly to the ring. Benn watched from the blue corner as the multi-award-winning performer entered the ring and carried on with his spontaneous PA.
The two were dressed in the same colours that Eubank and Benn Sr. wore during their well-known 1993 rematch, which ended in a draw, at Old Trafford as an homage to their dads' rivalry. Euban,k in recognisable yellow with red letters made famous by his 59-year-old father, and Benn in white and blue.
Given that their fathers had fought each other twice and that this fight took place precisely 203 days after their first meeting at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it was the fourth meeting between Benn and Eubank, making it without a doubt the most significant and longest-running family feud in British boxing history.
Although each enjoyed moments of success, the opening round was comparatively quiet considering how all-action their April meeting was. When Eubank found a home with his left hook, Benn first tried to strike with his right hand to the body. Later, he earned roars from the audience by landing a cross to the head.
While Eubank skirted around the outside, pot-shotting with straight right hands, Benn held centre ring despite his height and reach limitations. Additionally, Eubank appeared vulnerable when boxing mostly on the defensive and had his head wrenched back by several powerful jabs in the second.
Benn may have been taken aback by how easy it was to win the round and avoid problems, landing a huge left hook in the process. His early dominance carried over into the third. Eubank urgently needed a new strategy.
In the lead-up to the first fight, Benn had talked about how he just "lost his head," which led to an uncontrollable performance. He insisted that this time he was in control of his emotions, and by the end of the fourth round, it appeared that he had kept his word because of the maturity and poise that characterised his boxing.
Benn got back to business in the sixth round, but Eubank started to give more on the front foot in the fifth round without ever landing anything noteworthy. A push from Benn caused Eubank to drop to his knees at one point; it was not a knockdown, but it did suggest that the older man's legs were weak. You could make a strong case that Benn had a 6-0 lead by the middle of the bout.
Then, at the end of the seventh, he hit the susceptible Eubank with a clean one-two, the cleanest strikes of the fight thus far, and Eubank grinned back. Something was needed to change the situation, but it was not happening.
In the eighth round, Eubank landed two big right hands in a row, but Benn appeared to manage them effectively. Nevertheless, it was a much-needed preview of what the 36-year-old might do against his smaller opponent. But in the ninth, Benn answered with another sharp one-two.
There were even some jeers and whistles around the crowded stadium during a lethargic tenth round, when both players appeared to be waiting for the other to make their move, demonstrating how different this was from the frenetic April classic. Eubank failed to alter the tide as the 11th also slipped by.
Furthermore, Benn dropped him again to seal a historic victory in the 12th, making it a total disaster for him. Both originated from the right hands, and Eubank twice stood up unsteadily but made it to the last bell.
Eubank Jr. needs to take stock of his situation and carefully assess his options after announcing this week that he and his partner are expecting twin sons in the new year. The world scene awaits Benn, who intends to drop back down to welterweight.
AZIM SEALS DOMINANT PERFORMANCE WITH DECISIVE LATE STOPPAGE AGAINST SCOBY
Adam Azim remains undefeated, stopping a game Kurt Scoby in the 12th round. The dominant performance sets the junior welterweight contender up for a potential future clash with domestic rival Dalton Smith.
Adam Azim drops, stops Kurt Scoby in final round - COURTESY/PHOTO
There are several positive aspects of Adam Azim's quick and fluid work as a junior welterweight contender.
After stopping a game against rugged Kurt Scoby in the 12th round at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, he will now be focusing on the January bout between domestic rival Dalton Smith and Subriel Matias in New York.
Azim defeated a fighter who had been trying to get inside his mind all week with a dominant and controlled performance, improving to 14-0 (11 KOs).
However, Shane McGuigan-trained Azim maintained his composure. Similar to stablemate Chris Billam-Smith, who had been irritated by Brandon Glanton earlier in the year, Azim let his fists speak for him as Scoby lost 18-2 (16 KOs).
Azim started his quick retort right away. There was not much coming back from the Americans at the beginning, and Scoby had his gloves by his ears. Knowing that Azim's hands would be returning toward him, Scoby was only reluctantly throwing when Azim began firing a right to the body in the second.
Before round three, Scoby was advised in the corner, "I need you to attack a little bit more." He opened the third with a clean right hand that clipped Azim's jaw.
Azim was picking the better performances, including a left to the body in the fourth and a left uppercut in the fifth, but the heavily-muscled Scoby paid attention and had a stronger third round.
Before the sixth, trainer McGuigan advised Azim to remain calm and collected because he had not won a round. "It is better for you the more he pushes it."
Ben Shalom of Boxxer promoted Slough's Azim, who was dominant in that round thanks to his precise and hazy jab.
Azim only began to throw more when the action resumed, landing a left hook to the body and a left hook upstairs shortly after, making Scoby's mission all but impossible after he was penalised a point for clubbing Azim on the back of the head in the eighth.
Scoby’s production was reduced to rare single blows, but Azim was flowing forward and peppering the very durable American with jabs and lefts into his body. Azim was a mile down on points when Scoby waved him in during the ninth, but it was just gamesmanship.
At that time, it was one-sided but not a beating. Azim knew he had it in the bag from the beginning, and Scoby had not won a minute of a round.
When Scoby launched a left hook in the 11th, Azim crashed into his right hand, forcing Scoby to hold and struggle through the ensuing fog. However, Scoby survived the session, and it is safe to say that by then, he was no longer beckoning Azim in.
Azim demonstrated in the 12th that he was not in the mood to let Scoby get away with it. This week, Scoby had been berating Azim, arguing with him at the press conference, confronting him at the hotel, and at the public workout.
Azim turned the screws to do this, rather than just relaxing. Scoby could only drop to one knee as he fired with both fists, truly beginning to break him apart with a stunning variety. Referee Howard Foster called it off after 2-01 of the 12th, although he rose unhappy.