Ricky Hatton has been discussing the upcoming fight between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn.
This contest has had the boxing world talking for a number of years. It was first due to happen back in October 2022 but Benn failed a drugs test in the immediate run-up to the contest and it was subsequently pulled.
The 28-year-old has spent the time since fighting to clear his name, competing twice overseas but being provisionally suspended in the UK.
Eubank has competed on three occasions, taking his first KO loss against Liam Smith in early 2023 but avenging that with a stoppage win of his own in the immediate rematch six months later. Late last year, he finished Kamil Szeremeta in seven rounds.
With Benn now cleared to fight on home soil, the pair face off on April 26. Eubank will be the naturally bigger man when the two meet in the ring with Benn having to come up two weight classes from his natural 147 pounds to face his bitter rival.
Speaking to Sky Sports Boxing, former world champion Hatton cast his mind over the contest.
“I’m friends with Nigel, friends with Conor, but a lot of people are favouring Eubank a little bit. Let’s have it right, Conor’s not boxed nowhere near the level of Chris or the people Chris has fought at his own weight let alone two weights above.
But Chris will be boiling down a bit, last time he boiled down he got knocked out by Liam Smith so that will help Conor. But knowing Nigel and Conor like I do, the self-belief that Conor has, he has that real self-belief and will and drive to win, so I think that might give him the edge and I’m gonna go with Conor.”
The pair fight in London on April 26 and since the contest was announced, the build-up has got ever more heated, not least once Eubank Jr smashed an egg on Benn’s face at the first press conference.
