Chris Eubank Jr will face Conor Benn in a much-anticipated bout on April 26, but his IBO Middleweight Championship belt will not be on the line.
The rivals are set to do battle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, 35 years after their fathers fought in their first iconic bout.
The fight between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr has been heating up in recent weeks, with Eubank Jr smashing an egg on Benn’s face as a heated press conference went out of control.
This is a grudge match that has spanned generations, although Eubank Jr’s IBO Middleweight Championship won’t be on the line against Benn.
Why isn’t Chris Eubank Jr’s title on the line against Conor Benn?
Eubank Jr vs Benn is being fought at Middleweight, which is the same weight that the IBO title represents.
However, Benn has fought his career at Welterweight, a full two weight classes and 13 lbs below what he’ll be fighting at on April 26.
Because none of his previous fights have taken place at the 160 lb limit, Benn is unranked at Middleweight and ineligible for a sanctioned title shot, despite being undefeated at Welterweight.
There has been little protest from Benn over the decision. This match has been labelled as a grudge match, three years in the making after Benn’s failed drug test in 2022.
This grudge match is not one of Eubank Jr’s mandatory title defenses, so he has no obligation to put it on the line.
If he does lose to Benn then there is an argument that a rematch for the title could take place, although Eubank Jr’s statements about his future make that unlikely.
Eubank Jr claims he’ll retire from boxing if he loses to Benn
The bout is about more than titles. Eubank Jr has said he’ll retire if he loses, indicating his legacy and familial pride is more important than the IBO Middleweight belt.
The champion spoke with Men’s Health, where he explained how important this fight is for him in terms of legacy and why he can’t lose to Benn on April 26.
Eubank Jr said: “You know, everything is on the line for me, in terms of legacy, in terms of respect, in terms of pride, in terms of my career. If I lose this fight, I’ve said I’m going to retire.
“So this is the most important fight of my life, because I don’t want to give up. I don’t want to sail off into the sunset, as they say.
“Even though Conor Benn will tell everyone that I’m old, washed up, and finished. I don’t believe that’s the case. And it’s my job to go out there and prove it.”
Eubank Jr is the favorite to win the fight, owing to his size, experience, and power. However, it would be foolish to take an undefeated fighter like Benn lightly.