Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn target date and venue revealed for rematch
Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn 2 is being targeted for September 27 at Tottenham Hotspur FC stadium in London, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed.
"I know September 27, back at Spurs, is a date that he [Turki Alalshikh] has put forward and proposed," Benn's promoter Hearn told Sky Sports.
"We're ready really, we signed the contract for two fights. Conor's just desperate to run it back. He feels he's going to improve a lot going into that fight.
"[It was] his first fight in 14-15 months, at 160lbs. And both fighters deserve so much credit, we'd love to run it back."
The next generation reignited the famous British rivalry that originally begun in the 1990s when Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn became the world's biggest boxing rivals. Eubank inflicted the second defeat on Benn's record in November 1990 with a ninth-round stoppage, then they fought to a draw almost three years later in 1993 in a super-middleweight unification at Old Trafford, the home of Manchester United FC.
Junior and Conor were initially meant to meet in October 2022, but the event was cancelled just 48 hours before, when the British Boxing Board of Control intervened after Benn tested positive in two pre-fight drug tests. Matchroom Boxing were set to go ahead with the fight anyway, until the BBBofC pulled rank and subsequently suspended Benn.
It took until May 2024 for Benn to eventually be cleared of any wrongdoing, allowing his grudge match with Eubank Jr to be rescheduled on UK shores.
Following Benn's PEDs scandal, Eubank Jr sensibly increased the weight limit from a catchweight of 157lbs to 160lbs middleweight limit, where he has won an IBO world title shortly before.
However, the playing field was levelled with a 10lbs rehydration clause, which would mostly impede the bigger boxer, Eubank.
Subsequently, Chris missed the weight limit by half an ounce and was fined £375k. Prior to the bout, he shared his struggle with making weight, uploading images and video clips of him using saunas and sweat suits in a desperate attempt to boil down to the weight limit.
It is so far understood that the same weight limits will be in place for the rematch, which is a concern for many following the first fight.
Although the contest was fought at a fierce tempo, Eubank Jr did uncharacteristically look rather drained and dishevelled by the final rounds. Known for his big engine and relentlessness, Eubank appeared to have a torrid time making it to the final bell where he prevailed 116-112 on all three judges' cards.