Chris Eubank Jr insists he will be ‘finished’ in boxing if he loses to Conor Benn in October.
30 years after their fathers went to war in one of the most compelling rivalries in the history of British boxing, Eubank Jr and Benn set about recreating that intensity at a press conference on Friday.
In the first face-to-face meeting between the two, Eubank Jr, who has competed at middleweight and super-middleweight throughout his career, addressed the challenge of dropping down to the catchweight of 157lbs.
Insisting he will only be able to operate at ’60 per cent’ against Benn on 8 October, he admitted his chances of going on to fight for a world title will be dashed should he taste defeat.
But with that thought far from his mind, Eubank Jr vowed to ‘liquidate’ his younger opponent on the night.
‘For him, it is a win-win. For me, it’s lose-lose,’ Eubank Jr said.
‘If I lose to Conor Benn, I am finished. My goal is to fight for a world middleweight title next year. I can’t lose to Conor Benn and then say, ‘let me fight for a middleweight title.’ It can’t happen.
‘If I win, I most likely won’t get the credit for it. It is a lose-lose, all the risk and pressure is on me. He [Benn] has got his pressure, but I have a lot more to lose. You’re in a great position. Make an absurd amount of money.
‘But make no mistake, the money you make is all good but on 8 October I’m going to liquidate you.’
Eubank Snr beat Benn in Birmingham in 1990 before the rivals met again at Old Trafford three years later. The rematch ended in a draw, with Benn promising to even the score three decades on.
‘When we get in there we do settle the family business, I’m taking care of the family business,’ Benn said. ‘Their last fight was a draw and it’s about time someone set the score straight.’
Benn, 25, has enjoyed a blistering 18 months to position himself on the brink of world title contention at welterweight.
In fighting Eubank Jr, however, he puts those ambitions on hold, moving up two weight classes in the process to meet his rival at their catchweight.
MORE : Tyson Fury insists he is retired and rules out return to boxing after ‘long, hard conversations’ over his future
MORE : ‘I will do it my way’ – Frazer Clarke happy to be a ‘work in progress’ as he takes first steps towards emulating Anthony Joshua
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Stay connected with us on social media platform for instant update click here to join our Twitter, & Facebook
We are now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@TechiUpdate) and stay updated with the latest Technology headlines.
For all the latest Boxing News Click Here
