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Chris Eubank Jnr and Conor Benn finally get it on at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night - Mark Robinson/Getty Images
Conor Benn and Chris Eubank finally face off in a £17 million prize fight on Saturday which is as much an intriguing battle as it is a huge hit of nostalgia for British fans watching the latest instalment of the families’ feud.
The fight, promoted by Ring magazine and Turki Al-Sheikh, pits a welterweight coming up two divisions against a middleweight.
How the weight cut has gone for Eubank to 160lbs at the age of 35 could have an impact, while the marauding, hooking style of Benn could be dangerous in the first five rounds of the fight. But look to Eubank to employ his dangerous right uppercut, which can be hurtful and a potential fight finisher. Nonetheless, I see Eubank, the naturally bigger fighter, winning a close points decision.
Steve Collins: Defeated Chris Eubank Snr and Nigel Benn
Not sitting on the fence but I believe it will not go the distance and both fighters are capable of stopping each other. Eubank on paper looks the better with height and experience but Benn has power and Eubank has been stopped (against Liam Smith in January 2023). I heard Eubank may have had trouble with the weight cut this time around, and if he has it might go the way of Benn early to middle rounds.
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Liam Smith shocked Eubank Jnr in their first fight in Manchester two years ago - Nick Potts/PA
Roy Jones Jnr: Former world No 1 pound for pound and former Eubank Jnr trainer
I like both fighters, I like their styles, which are very different. This is a great fight for British fans. I have to go with Eubank, but it is what it is.
Michael Watson: Defeated Benn and lost to Eubank
What a fight it will be. I love them both. They call me ‘Uncle Michael’, and they are like family to me. Both have great talent, and if they fight each other anything like their dads did, it will be a fantastic fight. I wish them both all the best. It’s too hard for me to pick a winner. I just hope they get home safely to their families after a fantastic fight.
Amir Khan: Former world champion. A welterweight who fought a middleweight, Canelo Alvarez
It’s going to be a great fight, but a hard fight to call. I like both fighters. Both are hungry for victory as it means so much. Benn is younger by seven years, and has that spark in him. Benn will go for it early, and then will feel the power of Eubank, and start to box more. Eubank has the power, size and weight advantage. It depends how Benn comes in. Too much weight will slow him down. On the other side, if Eubank is affected by the weight cut, it may slow him down. Overall, I think Eubank will win the fight. I think it will be a points victory for Eubank, I don’t think there will be a knockout.
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Giving up so much weight means Benn has to strike in the early rounds - Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Johnny Nelson: Sky Sports pundit and former world cruiserweight champion
I have to lean towards Eubank for sheer experience and activity because of Benn’s inactivity. But that may change once we see them on the scales at the weigh-in on Friday. How Eubank has cut weight could have an important impact on Benn’s success, if it has been a real struggle for Eubank.
Anthony Crolla: Former world lightweight champion
I just think the level of opposition Eubank Jnr has fought is much higher compared with Benn and that’s key in this fight. I see size coming into this as a huge factor. I reckon Conor will have a bit of success over the first three rounds but Eubank Jnr wins by stopping Benn in the second half of the fight. I think his favourite punch, the right uppercut, plays a big part.
Barry Hearn: Promoter of Chris Eubank Sr vs Nigel Benn
I fancy a stoppage either way in what I see as a 50/50 fight. Benn has youth and fire-power in a fascinating fight, possibly one of the biggest non-title fights we’ve ever seen in the UK. Pride on the line, no belts. I think it’s a shame that Chris Eubank Snr is not there, I think he should be there. Maybe Chris Eubank Jnr is more relaxed as a result of that. Nigel has been the perfect father in the circumstances, there, supportive, but not over-involved.
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Eubank and his father are currently estranged - Mark Robinson/Getty Images
Josh Taylor: Former undisputed super lightweight world champion
I’m on the fence. The class and experience is on the Eubank side. The youth and explosiveness is on the Benn side, So it’s a hard decision to make. We saw that Eubank can be rocked by Smith, dropped and finished. And we know Conor comes out of the blocks quickly and explosively. So, that may work in his favour.
Eubank is naturally the bigger man at 160lbs but again he has to pull down in weight. So I’m on the fence a little bit. We’ll see Benn start quickly and try to put it on him. If that does happen and he catches Eubank, he won’t let up and he could get the stoppage. If not, I can see Eubank weathering the storm, keeping him at bay, and outboxing him in the later half of the fight. It can go one of two ways for me. Benn early; Eubank points.
Duke McKenzie: Former three weight world champion
Eubank will win via a points decision in a highly anticipated fight, probably the richest non-title fight in British boxing history. I think that we should not rule out a draw, it could possibly happen and there is a rematch clause. But my gut feeling is that Eubank wins the fight on points on a split decision.
Frank Warren: Promoter
I’d like to see Conor Benn win, I want Conor Benn to win, and he has it in him to do it.
Joe Calzaghe: Former undefeated two-weight world champion
It’s a tricky one. There are question marks on both fighters. If I had to bet I’d say Eubank, based on him being the bigger fighter naturally and having had better opposition and having campaigned at a higher level. But the question marks are around Conor coming up in weight... will it make him more explosive and a better fighter, or will Eubank be too big for him? A big deal is the weight cut with Eubank only permitted to put on 10lbs (from 160 to 170lbs) on Saturday morning, after Friday’s weigh-in. I know it can affect you, after struggling to make weight myself. And did the weight cut for Eubank against Smith affect him badly when he was knocked out in their first fight? But Eubank-Benn is an interesting fight. I edge towards Eubank, but we shall see.
Interviews by Gareth A Davies
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