Eubank Jr v Benn: Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn to fight on 26 April at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
2025-01-24
Category: sports

Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn's highly anticipated fight will be on 26 April at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Saudi boxing organiser Turki Alalshikh has announced.Earlier this month Alalshikh, who has organised some of the most high-profile fights in recent years as chairman of Saudi Arabia's general entertainment authority, confirmed a deal had been struck between the fighters.Englishmen Eubank and Benn are bitter rivals and were due to meet in October 2022, 29 years after their revered fathers Chris Eubank Sr and Nigel Benn fought for a second time.However, that bout was called off after Benn failed a voluntary drug test, sparking a two-year battle with anti-doping authorities, which culminated in his suspension being lifted last November.Thirty-five-year-old Eubank will be favourite against 28-year-old Benn, who steps up from the welterweight limit of 10st 7lb (147lb) for the fight.Alalshikh also confirmed some of the bouts on the undercard, including British light-heavyweight rivals Anthony Yarde and Lyndon Arthur completing their trilogy.Arthur won the first meeting in 2020 with Yarde gaining revenge in 2021.Bournemouth's Chris Billam-Smith faces American Brandon Glanton in his first contest since losing his WBO cruiserweight world title in a unification fight against WBA champion Gilberto Ramirez.Former WBO light-middleweight champion Liam Smith, who has not fought since losing to Eubank in September 2023, takes on Ireland's Aaron McKenna, while British cruiserweights Viddal Riley and Cheavon Clarke will square off.
Benn has not fought in the UK since 2022, but did compete on two occasions in the United States during his provisional suspension.He has always denied intentionally doping and will be subject to Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (Vada) testing for the Eubank bout.Eubank, who usually fights at middleweight, has lost three times in his 37-fight career but has tasted defeat only once in his past nine.Benn has not fought at an elite level but has an unbeaten record of 23 wins with 14 knockouts.