- Chris Eubank Jr. has opened as a slight -168 betting favorite in a catchweight bout against Conor Benn.
- Benn will be the underdog for the first time in his career after hitting the odds boards at +132 odds.
- Eubank Jr. and Benn are expected to fight on October 8, 2022 at London’s O2 Arena.
Britain’s Eubank vs Benn rivalry is getting a trilogy bout. However, it will be a trilogy like no other.
In November 1990, Chris Eubank Sr. stopped Nigel Benn in the 9th round of a WBO middleweight title fight. Three years later, the two British boxing icons fought to a draw in a WBC and WBO super middleweight championship bout. Now, nearly 30 years after the last Eubank vs Benn bout, it’s happening again.
Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn, the sons of Chris Sr. and Nigel, are set to collide in a catchweight bout on October 8 at London’s O2 Arena.
Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn are ‘set to collide at the O2 Arena on October 8’ https://t.co/yK8ykqmPRV
— MailOnline Sport (@MailSport) July 14, 2022
The bout is not yet official but according to sources, the two parties have agreed to fight, and they are in the process of finalizing the details of the showdown.
Four Knockdowns and a Showboat Finish
𝙁𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙘𝙠𝙙𝙤𝙬𝙣𝙨 & 𝙖 𝙨𝙝𝙤𝙬𝙗𝙤𝙖𝙩 𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙨𝙝! ✨
Highlights of Chris Eubank Jr vs Liam Williams!
💥@boxxer | @WassermanBoxing 👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/xDYvRtTA68
— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) February 6, 2022
Chris Jr. most recently defeated former British middleweight champion Liam Williams via unanimous decision at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena last February 5th, dropping Williams four times throughout the contest. That victory was the sixth straight for Eubank since losing to George Groves in the World Boxing Super Series semifinals in 2018.
Eubank is a former interim WBA middleweight and former IBO middleweight champion. The 32-year-old from East Sussex won his first 18 pro fights before losing to Billie Joe Saunders via split decision in 2014. He has not fought the best competition out there but still owns notable wins against Dmitry Chudinov, Arthur Abraham, James DeGale, and Matt Korobov. Overall, Eubank is 32-2 with 23 knockouts.
‘Next Gen’ has never opened nor closed as the betting underdog in his boxing career. Eubank Jr. was the -120 betting favorite when he lost to Saunders and was also the -175 chalk when he dropped a decision to Groves. His current odds of -168 are his longest opening odds since hitting the odds boards at -165 against Groves.
Conor Benn Ices Chris Van Heerden
Conor Benn ices Chris Van Heerden to remain undefeated 🔥
— Boxing World UK 🥊🏴 (@BoxingWorldUk) April 16, 2022
Meanwhile, Benn heads to this historic bout after icing former world champion Chris Van Heerden inside two rounds just last April 16th at the Manchester Arena. That win came one fight after he stopped another former world champion Chris Algieri inside four rounds at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena last December.
The 25-year-old from Greenwich has not fought in a world title fight but at the regional level, he has been a standout. Since winning the WBA continental welterweight title, Benn has successfully defended the strap seven times with wins over big-named opponents like Van Heerden, Algieri, Adrian Granados, Samuel Vargas, and Sebastian Formella. He is undefeated with a record of 21-0 with 14 knockouts.
Like Eubank Jr., Benn has never been the underdog in his entire professional boxing career. However, being the smaller fighter moving up to face a bigger foe, he was the expected underdog against Eubank, even though they are going to fight in a catchweight. At his opening odds of +132 however, he is expected to give Eubank a good fight and the fans a trilogy bout just thrilling as the first two Eubank vs Benn matches.
