Two-weight world champion David Haye has made his final prediction for Chris Eubank Jr. versus Conor Benn.
The two ‘born rivals’ finally face off after years of drama. The first scheduled bout in 2022 was pulled late in the day due to a failed doping test on Benn’s part, but he will fight on UK soil for the first time in three years after his provisional suspension was lifted in late 2024.
After the drama at the weigh-in, with Benn coming in light and Eubank missing the limit by half an ounce, many in the boxing world are struggling to pick a winner, but not Haye.
Speaking on social media, he assessed Benn’s chances based on what we have seen of him so far. The former unified cruiserweight champ says that it is not much.
“Connor Ben is a welterweight If you wanted him to perform at his very best, he would be at welterweight … But is Conor Benn that Manny Pacquiao, that Floyd Mayweather Jr, you know, the Roberto Duran, those legends that are able to work their way through the weight divisions, irrespective of what their natural weight started off at? That’s unknown.
“He hasn’t done anything so far in his career. The win against Chris Algieri looked fantastic, he looked like he was on that type of pathway, but since then his last two fights at super-welterweight he hasn’t looked that great so it’s unknown. Everything with Conor Benn is unknown. Everything with Chris Eubank Jr, we know, we know where he’s at.”
Haye then revealed that he has been privy to a couple of Eubank’s sparring sessions and was impressed.
“I’ve watched two of his sparring sessions. And he was putting himself in his own comfort zone. He was sparring with guys who were coming to really put the heat on him. And I liked what I saw from him. I liked the punch variety. I liked the close-in exchanges. He’s there for 10 rounds. He’s there for 12 rounds if it needs to be. I think this is a 10-rounder. But he’ll be there. and I think you will see the best version of Chris Eubank.”
For a final prediction, Haye backs Eubank Jr by stoppage late in the fight.
“I fancy Chris Eubank Jr to stop Conor Benn based on Conor Benn’s current form, his history. Looking at the fights, he had how he won those fights. I believe Chris Eubank Jr beats him. Stops him late. Unless Chris Eubank isn able to deal with a version of Conor Benn that we haven seen before … He’s a big favourite because of the size, because of the history, because of his experience.”
All predictions will be proved right or wrong tonight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
