Boxing continues to count down the days before Chris Eubank Jr’s blockbuster showdown with Conor Benn next month.
The pair renew the family rivalry and follow in the footsteps of their fathers, long-term enemies Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, whose two fights have gone down in British boxing folklore.
Tensions were already high when the bout was first pencilled in for October 2022, only for it to be cancelled at the eleventh hour after Benn returned adverse findings in two separate drug tests.
Fast-forward to now and the fight has been scheduled again for April 26th at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Benn is free to box after UKAD chose not to appeal a National Anti-Doping Panel decision in relation to the two tests.
However, many remain sceptical over whether he has truly proven his innocence.
Spencer Oliver wants Chris Eubank Jr to beat Conor Benn
One man who has made his feelings known about the upcoming fight is former fighter and talkSPORT pundit Spencer Oliver.
The 50-year-old has been consistently critical of the process which followed news of Benn’s adverse findings and admits he hopes Eubank Jr gets his hand raised when the two meet next month.
Speaking on talkSPORT at the weekend, Oliver said: “I want Chris to win. Because of certain situations, I want Chris to win.
“He [Conor Benn] has been cleared. There’s a difference, he’s been cleared. He’s not proved his innocence, he’s been cleared. Let’s make this right, let’s put it on the line, that’s where we’re at with it.
“I’m a former fighter and that’s how I feel, quite strong about it.”
It’s easy to see why the topic of performance-enhancing drugs is a sensitive topic for Oliver based on his own experience as a fighter.
He was left fighting for his life following a European title fight in 1998, which left him in a coma for two weeks and forced him to retire from the sport.
Oliver labels Eubank Jr’s £100k egg slap fine ‘a disgrace’
Oliver also criticised the £100,000 fine handed to Eubank Jr for slapping Benn with an egg during a press conference at the end of February.
While some form of punishment was inevitable, Oliver believes the British Boxing Board of Control overstepped the mark with the extent of the fine.
He said: “I think it’s a disgrace. £100,000 is a disgrace for what he’d done, I think that’s taking a complete liberty.
| Chris Eubank Jr | Conor Benn | |
| Record | 34-3 | 23-0 |
| Knockout Wins | 25 | 14 |
| Knockout Ratio | 73.53% | 60.87% |
“The Boxing Board of Control need to behave in the correct manner. Maybe he should’ve [appealed] because I don’t agree with it. I think it was all way, way, way overboard.
Regardless of the controversy surrounding the bout, there can be no doubting the anticipation which is building ahead of the opening bell in under a month’s time.
The event is already on the verge of selling out the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and will also be shown on both Sky Sports and DAZN pay-per-view.