Gareth Freeman: Make no mistake, Eubank Jr vs Benn is more than just a family feud

The wait is almost over for the sequel we didn’t know we needed as Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn step into the ring on Saturday to continue a family rivalry that rumbles way back to the late 1980s.

The first Nigel Benn v Chris Eubank fight took place in 1990 and many of those who head to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or tune in on Saturday night to watch the bout between their sons won’t even have been born when this feud started. Indeed, Chris Jr had only just turned one at the time of that first meeting and Conor came along after both fights between their fathers had taken place.

That doesn’t really matter, as most fans of the sweet science will have watched both fights in the entirety at least once and even casual observers will have seen highlights over the years – although the first fight is essentially nine rounds of highlights before a disappointing ending, considering what had gone before.

In terms of matching those legendary scraps for quality, Saturday’s battle of the sons has too much to live up to. Nigel Benn was at the peak of his powers with a 27-1 record (25 KOs) and the WBO middleweight champion when the first fight took place, while Eubank was an unbeaten upstart who had been calling out the Dark Destroyer for years.

Chris Eubank Sr (left) and Nigel Benn trade blows in their second clash in 1993Credit: Getty Images

It was an all-British world title fight between two elite fighters, and in that respect Eubank Jr vs Benn just isn’t in the same league. 

Eubank Jr is now 35 and his best years may already be behind him. Benn does bring an unbeaten 23-0 record to the table, but he hasn’t fought at the highest level and comes into this bout after a period of relative inactivity after a failed drugs test – he’s also jumping up in weight to make this fight happen.

The fact that there was a world title on the line in 1990 was a selling point, but the interest of the nation was really captured by the genuine animosity between the two boxers in a showdown labelled 'Who’s Fooling Who?'

The rivalry reached a crescendo on fight night when Eubank’s ring walk was sabotaged and he vaulted the ropes to a chorus of jeers rather than his usual Tina Turner walk-on. They continued to goad each other during the contest with Eubank strutting between rounds and Benn deploying his legendary icy stare. 

Ahead of the initial date for this clash in 2022 that personal vendetta just wasn’t there. Eubank Jr, in particular, showed a level of respect for his rival and admitted he took the fight for the family name, rather than any personal axe to grind with Benn.

"Something like this (the sons of two boxing legends fighting) has never happened and I don't think it ever will happen again, ever - that is why I took this fight," he said after the initial announcement.

Benn echoed those comments by saying he was “taking care of the family business”, but much has changed in the intervening years after that date was scrapped due to Benn's positive test for a banned substance.

That proved to be the spark that turned a historic feud into a deeply personal one. Since October 2022, the tone has shifted.

The respect Eubank Jr showed in 2022 turned to outright mockery as he used the ban to goad his rival at regular intervals. For his part, Benn has always denied any wrongdoing. 

The boiling point came in a now-infamous incident in February when Eubank Jr pulled an egg from his pocket and cracked it across Benn’s face in a nod to the WBC’s suggestion that the prohibited substance had shown up in Benn’s system because he ate too many eggs. Pandemonium ensued and both fighters had to be held back by security.

A dislike that felt forced back in 2022 has become all-out hatred, and a fight that was once a bit of a curiosity has evolved into a bitter grudge match.

"I hate what he stands for,” Benn told Sky Sports recently. “I hate who he is as a man."

Eubank Jr has a similar take, saying Saturday is about the "beef" between himself and Benn, rather than their fathers.

Unlike most sports, the titles in boxing are often secondary concerns when it comes to public demand. What we all really want to see is two men with a genuine axe to grind going to war over however many rounds it takes to settle matters, and all the signs suggest we’re going to get exactly that in north London this weekend.

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Don't miss our preview of Saturday's big fight:

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn predictions: 6-4 and 4-1 tips for the main event 

Eubank Jr vs Benn undercard predictions: King Arthur to be slayed 

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: date, latest betting odds and how to watch 

Chris Eubank Jr vs Conor Benn: tale of the tape and betting odds 

Chris Eubank Jr: profile, record and next fight against Conor Benn 

Conor Benn: record, next fight and Eubank Jr rivalry explained 

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