Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. delivered a fight of the year contender in April and, up until now, looked all set to do it again.
The ‘born rivals’ were first scheduled to face off all the way back in October 2022 but a failed doping test on Benn’s part saw the entire fight card scrapped. After a lengthy battle to clear his name, he was given permission to fight in the UK late last year and immediately set about rescheduling.
Eubank, fighting at the weight he has been accustomed to but with a 10 pound rehydration clause hindering him, took a unanimous decision after twelve hard-fought rounds. Benn, who had come up two divisions from his natural class, put in an impressive and gritty effort against the bigger man.
The rematch was announced for September 20 in London, however the plans are clearly anything but secure.
Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show, Benn said that he has ‘heard Eubank has bottled it.’
“If he doesn’t want to do the fight and he is bottling it, which is what he is, he’s scared. He’s signed already. What I’m gathering is that he doesn’t want the fight and he wants to get out of it or move the weight.
“I wanna fight Eubank. I wanna get redemption. I think he’s scared of that. That was the best Eubank in there. There was wrongs that I can right. If it does happen next, I’ll fight with less heart, less balls, more brains.”
He then said that there was a deadline of today for a final decision.
“You think I’m joking? Today is the deadline. Whether the fight’s going ahead or not … Otherwise, we move.”
If the rematch does pass him by, the 28-year-old says he is excited to get back to his natural 147 pounds.
“Listen, I’m excited to get back down to 147 where I’m at my most dangerous … There’s plenty of fights there to make. I’m not just giving you talk, what I’m saying is factual. Within the next 24 hours [we’ll know].”
Despite the official announcement, it seems that fans may find out soon whether or not the second fight actually goes ahead.
