Chris Eubank Sr calls Conor Benn ‘superior fighter’ ahead of his son despite Jr winning fight
CHRIS EUBANK SR has stunningly claimed Conor Benn is a “SUPERIOR FIGHTER” than his son, despite Jr getting the better of him.
The rivals went toe-to-toe for an incredible 12 hard rounds in their tussle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday night.
Eubank Jr – who was boosted by his father’s eleventh-hour appearance for the family grudge match – edged an instant classic courtesy of a unanimous decision victory.
Eubank Sr was proud as punch of his namesake, although he admits Benn – the son of his former rival and fellow Brit boxing icon Nigel Benn – is the better fighter.
He told talkSPORT: “I was always going to be here for my son, irrespective of what you thought.
“Suspense is part of the game. The performance, championship rounds, standing toe to toe.
“The credit I am going to give to Conor. I told you he was a superior fighter, but he shouldn’t be fighting at 160lbs.
“He is a 147lbs fighter. What couldn’t he do around the world?
“He has been destroyed by the people who are handling him.
“They need to be held to account. Do your job, do your job, do your job!”
Eubank Jr vs Benn: SunSport's verdict
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS of the Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr rivalry was settled with 36 minutes of violence.
Yet with all the tremendous heart shown by both boxers, there wasn’t much technique, skill or finesse on display here.
After tons of trash talking, egg throwing and mind games that have been played out to the world over the last three years, SunSport’s Wally Downes Jr gives his verdict on what should be the final chapter in one of British boxing’s biggest beefs.
Read here to find out why the 12-round slugfest should not be repeated – and why the rivalry should now be put to bed.
Eubank Jr – who walked out to his dad’s old walkout tune of ‘Simply The Best’ by Tina Turner – was over the moon to have ensured family bragging rights were maintained.
And despite his disdain for his rival, he praised Benn for giving him the fight of his life.
The 35-year-old said: “I knew I was capable of that. I just needed someone to bring that out of me.
“I’m not going to lie, I did not expect that he’d be the guy to do that.
“But the fact that our fathers did what they did all those years ago, it brings out a different soul, a different spirit.
“That’s what we both showed here tonight. I pushed through.
“There’s a lot of things that have been going on in my life that I’m not going to get into right now.
“But I’m happy to have (my father) back with me.
“We upheld the family name like we said we were going to do. Onwards and upwards from here.”