5 Burning Questions for Eubank Jr.-Benn II
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The sons of British boxing legends gave fans an instant classic earlier this year, reviving one of the sport’s most storied rivalries in dramatic fashion. Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn didn’t just live up to the family name, they carved out their own chapter in boxing history with a Fight of the Year contender that had fans on their feet from bell to bell.
Now, just months later, they’re set to do it again. Can lightning strike twice, or will this sequel take a different shape? Ahead of one of the most anticipated rematches of the year, we tackle five burning questions surrounding Eubank Jr.-Benn II:
#1. Their fathers’ rivalry was legendary. Their first fight became an instant classic. Can Eubank Jr.-Benn II live up to April’s war?
Lee: Their back-and-forth battle in April is a strong contender for Fight of the Year. But, we should temper our expectations going into the second matchup. Although, round eight will resonate with boxing fans for years to come.
Benn exited his corner possessed, knowing he needed to turn the tide. Eubank Jr. fatigued and showing little to no defense, met Benn in an unrelenting exchange of shots. The Compubox numbers showed Eubank outlanded Benn in every single round. However, the night belonged to both fighters, and two amazing fighting families.
I think Benn will be a little more cautious in the second matchup. The second fight might be a more technical fight as both guys will look to limit mistakes and take less punishment. But, technical fights are not always boring.
Evan: While we were definitely wrong with assuming their first fight wasn’t going to be an all-time action brawl, I think Lee’s viewpoint is right. I don’t know if this rematch between Eubank Jr. and Benn will be the same type of slugfest, where they just abandon any sort of cautiousness.
Back in April, they threw a combined 1500 punches or so. I wouldn’t expect them to engage in another brutal trench warfare style of fight like that again. I believe both will be far more calculated with their approaches to dismantling one another here. This second act should be an exciting scrap regardless though, but tempering our expectations that it will be as enthralling as last time is probably the safe bet.
#2. The first fight’s theatrical buildup helped it hit 620k buys. Without the same hype, will the rematch surpass or fall short?
Lee: The build up to the first fight was incredible and sometimes overboard. But, it led to great PPV numbers for what some would call a regional fight. I really don’t like to talk about PPV numbers but as they say numbers don’t lie. The boxing fan in me says it should easily match the original numbers because the first fight was that good.
The second fight should get more eyes because the people that watched the first fight are just as excited for the second. A price point of $24.99 is affordable, which is also important when it comes to PPV buys. I would be completely shocked if this fight came in lower than the first matchup.
Evan: So I’m on the opposite side here, in that I think it will come in under the 620,000 buys. But not by much though, as I do believe the interest is pretty high for this rematch. I’m just not sure there’s that same fever pitch type hype for the second fight as there was for their first matchup back in April. Which was largely due to the incredible pre-fight promotion both did, but it’s been far more subdued this go around.
I still think because of the affordability of the PPV price as Lee mentioned, combined with the expectations, this will be as incredible as the first fight will lead to it producing a respectable number. But I think it’ll be closer to 400-550k buys, rather than exceeding the 620k they did last time.
#3. Who needs the win more here in this rematch, Chris Eubank Jr. or Conor Benn?
Lee: Eubank Jr. needs this win more in this rematch. The 36-year-old’s stock is at an all-time high as he is looking for big fights in the future. Billy Joe Saunders is a fight that he would like to run back since he lost to him back in 2014. He has also named Terence Crawford as someone he would like to meet, despite having a common trainer.
Canelo Alavarez is the fight that he has wanted for years. He has stated he would move up in weight to share the ring with him. The only way he can get to fight Crawford or Canelo is to keep stacking wins. That includes this upcoming rematch with Conor Benn.
Evan: I’m pretty torn on this one, and feel it’s truly 50-50 on who needs the win more. Another loss for Benn wouldn’t be a great look. But, he’s still only 28 years old, and can always go back down to his natural weight class of 154 pounds which is a division loaded with intriguing matchups for him to take on.
So, I’ll agree with Lee and say the answer is Eubank Jr. for many of the reasons he’s already laid out. Chris will probably never be in this position again to leverage his way into a big fight with someone like Canelo specifically, especially as he enters the latter stage of his career. Defeating Benn for a second time, while drawing in another big PPV number can assure that becomes a reality for him.
#4. What adjustments should Chris & Conor each make from their first matchup, to give them the best chance at victory?
Lee: Eubank Jr. doesn’t need many adjustments. He’s the sharper boxer who used his jab and angles well in their first meeting. Benn, however, must tighten his defense and fight with more controlled aggression. His relentless offense often left him open to counters, and his cardio faded late as Eubank took over, landing at will and nearly forcing a stoppage.
Evan: So I definitely agree with Lee’s overall premise. However, I don’t fully agree completely with the specifics of what he’s saying. The biggest adjustment Eubank Jr. can make in my opinion is being more defensively responsible and more efficient with his energy. I actually felt he gassed out harder of the two in the first fight.
Defensively, he’s got to simply move his feet and head more. His willingness to stand right in front of Conor nearly cost him several times. With revered trainer Brian “Bomac” McIntyre now in his corner, I expect Chris to be much more cerebral this time.
Benn on the other hand has a ton he can improve on. His cardio wasn’t as big of an issue to me, it was more so his approach to the fight. The amount of times he willingly chose to put himself out of position, throwing home run shots and winging punches from his hips with reckless abandon, became a recipe for disaster.
Conor’s shot selection and footwork were a complete mess back in April. So being more economical with his offense, will be crucial for his success in the rematch. He’s also got to find a way to counter Eubank Jr.’s jab, while staying off the ropes and away from the clinch where Chris bullied him last time.
#5. Ultimately, did this fight need to happen so soon again as an immediate rematch?
Lee: I don’t think this rematch is happening too soon. You must strike while the fire is still hot! Plus, fans should be more fired up for the rematch because the first fight was so good. Let’s just go back to Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2. Some were mad that the rematch happened so quickly. But, it was a good thing because the fans didn’t lose interest. They were more excited leading into the second fight, which didn’t disappoint.
Fans will be looking to see if Benn comes to the fight in better shape and what changes he made. On the other hand, did Eubank Jr. get lucky, or can he validate his prior win more emphatically? The answers will only be answered in the rematch which we don’t have to sit around and wait for.
Evan: I’m on the same page as Lee, there’s literally no good reason as to why this shouldn’t have happened. From the first fight being a FOTY contender, a huge commercial success, and ending in a somewhat debated decision, it had all the ingredients you want to see out of a potential immediate rematch.
Between the questions that still need to be answered and the narratives that aren’t yet finished, there’s plenty of meat left on the bone for this rivalry. In what has been one of the worst years the sport has had in the last decade, boxing fans everywhere should be grateful we’re getting part two of Eubank Jr.-Benn.
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