Tony Bellew has been assessing the fight between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn once more.
This contest has many people split down the middle. Eubank Jr is a more experienced fighter, having fought genuine world champions or former title holders, though falling short in his biggest tests against the likes of George Groves and Billy Joe Saunders.
He is also naturally the much bigger man, with Benn having to come up two full weight classes from his comfortable 147 pounds for the fight at 160, though there is a 10 pound rehydration clause on the morning of the fight.
Although Benn is the fresher fighter, he has lost momentum in the ring, with just two low-key points wins out in the United States since the first Eubank date was canned when he returned a positive in a doping test.
Prior to that, he was on a good streak with knockouts over the likes of Chris Algieri and Samual Vargas, which is why some in the sport believe he has the power, aggression and desire to get the job done against Eubank.
Speaking to First Round TV, former world champion Bellew favoured Benn – who was cleared to fight in the UK late last year after serving a provisional suspension during the investigation – to get the job done in the first half of the fight.
“I think it’s a fight of two halves. My heart always says Conor, I love the kid, he’s a good kid with a good heart. But if this fight goes past six rounds is a hard night’s work. I should say eight rounds, ’cause Conor is extremely fit. It’s just when it gets to the stage that weight and size is a factor it shows.
“But I think Chris Eubank is a terrible boxer, he’s a better fighter than boxer. I’m saying Conor Benn in the first five rounds. I think he’ll catch him and nail him and jump all over him.”
The pair face off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 26.
