Conor Benn during Eubank Jr/Benn Press Conference at Glaziers Hall on August 12, 2022 in London, England and Chris Eubank speaks during a press conference at the Hilton Park Lane Hotel on May 19, 2016 in London, England Credit: Getty Images Leigh Dawney / Stringer Charlie Crowhurst/Stringer

Conor Benn shared fiery exchange with Chris Eubank Sr. nine years before grudge match with rival

Originally posted on Bloody Knockout | By Donal Long | Last updated Apr 21, 2025 11:32 AM ET

Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. have a deep rivalry that dates back before they stepped into the ring.

Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn’s fight series and rivalry have led to their sons also having tensions between one another. As Eubank Jr. and Benn will finally meet on April 26th, 2025, they will aim to settle their intense score.

Scheduled to fight in 2022, the bout has been years in the making. However, tensions between the families had risen years before then.

In 2016, a heated exchange between Eubank Sr. and Conor Benn showed that the dust had not settled between the families.

Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Conor Benn fires back at Chris Eubank Sr. in 2016

In June 2016, Eubank Jr. and Benn would both compete on a fight card in The O2 Arena, London. Joined by the likes of Anthony Joshua and George Groves on the card, the pair were brought together for a pre-fight press conference.

Eubank Sr. was sitting alongside his son for the press conference. However, Nigel Benn was not in attendance at the media occasion.

Eubank Sr. began speaking about Conor Benn, expressing concern. “It’s not the boxing of which I’m concerned with, it’s the ordinary life, the people. Who are your friends? Who are you moving about with?”

Benn responded by saying, “Who are you to talk about my life?”

“Who are you to talk about my personal life in front of all these cameras… I find that extremely disrespectful. It’s none of your business. You want to talk about my Dad? Talk about him.”

Benn went on to say that he would accept comments from Eubank Sr. regarding his boxing career, but would not be as welcoming of comments on his personal life. “Talk about my boxing, that’s it.”

Eubank Sr. responded by saying that Benn’s boxing career would benefit from the influence of his father. Seemingly offering advice, ‘Simply the Best’ also added, “I’m not trying to embarrass you. I want the best for you.”

After the interaction, Benn said that had his father been there, he thought there would have been “fists flying all around the room.”

Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn would win their respective bouts on 2016 fight card

When the two competed on the same card in London, they would both emerge as the victors in their respective bouts.

Eubank Jr. was able to secure a TKO victory after four rounds, defeating Tom Doran (17-0). The win improved the fighter’s record to 23-1, as Eubank Jr. had lost to Billy Joe Saunders two years beforehand.

A nineteen-year-old Benn would have just his third professional fight of his career. Facing Lukas Radic from Czechia, Benn would win the fight via first-round knockout.

Other results on the card included Joshua defeating Dominic Breazeale via TKO and George Groves being victorious against Martin Murray.

This article first appeared on Bloody Knockout and was syndicated with permission.

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