As Conor Benn prepares to face Chris Eubank Jr. on April 26 in a fight built on family legacy, another Eubank has stepped forward to challenge him.
Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. are set to continue the legacy of their father’s in what might be one of the biggest domestic fights the country has seen for quite some time.
Originally set to take place in October 2022, the all-British grudge match was canned after Benn was found guilty of using PEDs, something Eubank Jr. continues to remind him of ahead of their fight.
However, there is one other boxer in the Eubank family who recently secured a career-best win and would like to put the nail in the coffin of the Eubank vs Benn feud once and for all.
Harlem Eubank calls out Chris Eubank Jr.
Harlem Eubank, the unbeaten welterweight, believes he is the more natural opponent for Benn and has now publicly called for the fight.
Harlem, 31, made his case in the ring on Friday night, delivering a dominant performance against Tyrone McKenna in Brighton. Dropping McKenna with a sharp uppercut in the fifth round, he controlled the fight before securing a 10th-round stoppage. The victory was a statement, and it wasn’t long before Harlem set his sights on Benn.
His uncle, Chris Eubank Sr., was in attendance and wasted no time in stirring the pot. Speaking after the fight, he dismissed the upcoming Benn-Eubank Jr. clash, suggesting it would fall apart, and insisted Harlem was the right opponent for Benn instead.
“They’ve destroyed the career of Conor Benn,” Eubank Sr. said. “The only way he’s going to get any dividend back is by fighting an undefeated Eubank. That’s Junior’s cousin, Harlem ‘The Gold’ Eubank.”
Harlem himself echoed the challenge. “I did what I said I was going to do, and next is Conor Benn,” he said. “That’s the fight where I can really do some damage. He knows it, and that’s why he doesn’t want the fight.”
The potential matchup carries intrigue. Both Harlem and Benn are unbeaten, compete at a natural weight, and are at similar stages in their careers. Harlem is 31 with 21 professional fights, while Benn, 28, has had 23 bouts. Unlike the Benn-Eubank Jr. fight, which forces a weight compromise, a Harlem-Benn clash would be a more balanced contest.
However, while Harlem may have the name, he lacks the notoriety of his cousin. Chris Eubank Jr. has long been moulded in his father’s image, with his brash personality and flair making him a box-office attraction. Harlem, by contrast, has quietly built his career without the same theatrics.
For now, the focus remains on Benn vs. Eubank Jr. – a fight fuelled by nostalgia more than competitiveness. But if Harlem’s callout gains traction, there could soon be another Benn-Eubank rivalry in the making.
