Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn will fight in one of Britain’s most highly-anticipated nights of boxing for a while, in front of 65,000 fans in London this weekend.
The match-up between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn has got not just the United Kingdom, but the whole world talking.
Though Benn is moving up in weight, Eubank has fallen short before and is nearing the end of his career, and whilst Benn has requested a smaller ring, Eubank has faced the better opposition over his career.
An array of factors have made this fight a fascinating one, and there is no unanimous consensus on who will win, even amongst world champion boxers.
Bloody Knockout has compiled a list of some top fighters’ predictions below:
Liam Smith
Eubank Jr.’s former foe, Liam Smith, has had his say on the fight to Boxing News, after sharing the ring with Eubank twice, with each fighter getting one win apiece.
Eubank was restrained by Team Smith in the first fight after attempting to fight on following his first KO loss. Eubank wore a jacket made with Smith’s blood recently.
Smith said: “I’m not 100% sold on the winner but I’ll probably edge towards Chris on points. Just size-wise, Conor’s small.”
Prediction: Eubank Jr. to win on points.
Chris Billam-Smith
Former cruiserweight world champion Chris Billam-Smith has also given his take on the fight, ahead of his own ring return against Brandon Glanton after suffering a loss to Gilberto Ramirez:
“I think it’ll be an explosive fight. […] I think [Benn] will bring the intensity, and Eubank can fight the intensity so I think it’ll be a great fight. You have to favor the bigger man. Through history, you know, 95% of the time the bigger man wins.”
Prediction: Eubank Jr. to win.
Joe Cordina
Former champion and Benn’s stablemate, Joe Cordina, didn’t surprise anyone with his prediction:
“It’s a tough fight […] But I do believe Conor comes through. I don’t know if it’s my heart speaking or my head. […] I hope to god Conor wins. More than anything, I’m just happy that he’s able to set his family up for life now.”
Prediction: Benn to win.
Peter Fury
Tyson Fury‘s uncle and top boxing trainer, Peter Fury told IFL TV:
“Eubank’s the bigger man. I could see how both could win it. […] I don’t see Eubank coming on his front foot. I see him just trying to pick Benn off on the way in because Benn is… Conor is very aggressive.”
“[Eubank] will try and walk Conor onto shots. He’ll keep it long as much as he can, tie him up on the inside so he can’t get his work off.”
“Hopefully, Benn doesn’t start headhunting because that’s the worst thing you can do when you’re fighting a back-foot fighter.”
Though he didn’t give a straight answer as to who would win, it seems as though Fury is edging Eubank, who will be fined for missing weight, as the favorite.
Prediction: Eubank Jr. to win (possibly).
Shawn Porter
Retired world champion, and former opponent to Terence Crawford, Shawn Porter recently sparred Benn, and gave his opinions on the fight:
“Conor is going to apply the pressure and the aggression. That’s who he is. I think that works to his advantage against Chris Eubank.”
“Eubank’s been around the block a few times. I actually thought he’s made a nice comeback […] but I think ultimately Benn is younger, stronger, got a lot more energy in him. I think he’s gonna win.”
Prediction: Benn to win.
The Bloody Knockout team gave their own Benn vs Eubank predictions, and were also split on who would win each fight.