Chris Eubank Jr has accepted a £1 million bet from promoter Eddie Hearn on his upcoming fight against Conor Benn.
Eubank Jr and Benn will share the ring on April 26 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The highly anticipated fight comes 18 months after their original clash was postponed due to Benn failing two drug tests.
Hearn initially proposed the bet to Ben Shalom, Eubank Jr’s promoter, but Shalom declined, with Eubank Jr. then taking matters into his own hands, publicly accepting the wager.
Eubank Jr Calls Hearn’s Bluff
“Come on, Eddie. £1m, eh? Okay, let’s find out if you’re a man of your word or just a lying hype job,” Eubank Jr. said in a social media video.
He attached a clip of Hearn offering the bet and made it clear the money should come from personal funds. “The money will go into escrow, and the winner takes all.”
Eubank Jr. then took a dig at Hearn, adding, “Now I look forward to watching you try to weasel your way out of this bet, like the rodent I know you are. Good day.”
Chris Eubank Jr. was recently fined £100K by the BBBofC for smashing an egg on Benn’s head during their press conference.
The fight is set to continue the legacy of the fathers of the pair, Chris Eubank Sr. and Nigel Benn, who fought twice in the 1990s, with Eubank Sr. winning the first fight and their rematch ending in a draw.
Both Eubank and Benn seem equally confident that they have the tools required to defeat the other, and the rivalry, which was likely a marketing strategy for their initial bout, seems very real now, especially since Eubank maintains Benn could’ve put him in serious danger if they fought while he used PEDs.
With tensions high and money now on the line, all eyes are on whether Hearn will accept the challenge.
The undercard features Liam Smith vs Aaron McKenna, Chris Billam-Smith vs Brandon Glanton, Viddal Riley vs Chev Clarke, and Anthony Yarde vs Lyndon Arthur 3.
The Road to Rescheduling: Drug Tests and Delays
The highly anticipated clash between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn was initially slated for October 8, 2022, but was dramatically called off just days before the event. The postponement stemmed from Conor Benn failing two Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) tests, which detected traces of clomifene, a fertility drug known to elevate testosterone levels. Despite initial claims from promoters that the bout would proceed, the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) ultimately prohibited the fight, deeming it not in the best interests of boxing.
In the aftermath of the failed tests, Benn relinquished his British boxing license and faced a suspension from UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) in March 2023. He maintained his innocence throughout the ordeal, attributing the adverse findings to contaminated eggs, a claim that Eubank Jr. publicly dismissed. While suspended in the UK, Benn sought to continue his career abroad, securing two victories in the USA: a unanimous decision win over Rodolfo Orozco in September 2023 and another unanimous decision against Peter Dobson in February 2024. His suspension was eventually lifted by the National Anti-Doping Panel (NADA) in July 2023, a decision that was appealed by UKAD and the BBBofC, leading to a provisional re-suspension. However, this second suspension was withdrawn in November 2024, finally clearing Benn to compete on home soil. The rescheduling for April 26, 2025, marked Benn’s first fight in Britain in three years.
Fighter Form and the £1 Million Wager
Leading up to their rescheduled bout, both fighters showcased their capabilities in the ring. Chris Eubank Jr., with a professional record of 34 wins and 3 losses, including 25 knockouts, had demonstrated strong form. Prior to facing Benn, he secured a seventh-round technical knockout victory over Kamil Szeremeta in October 2024 and avenged a previous loss to Liam Smith with a tenth-round technical knockout in September 2023. His only other professional defeats came against notable opponents such as Billy Joe Saunders and George Groves.
Conor Benn, entering the contest with an unblemished record of 23 wins and no losses, with 14 knockouts, was stepping up two weight divisions to face Eubank Jr. His impressive knockout ratio of 60.9% underscored his aggressive style and power. The rivalry between Eubank Jr. and Benn, deeply rooted in their fathers’ legendary encounters in the 1990s, intensified with the public exchange regarding the £1 million bet. While Eubank Jr. publicly accepted promoter Eddie Hearn’s challenge, Hearn later clarified that promoters are prohibited from betting on fights by the British Boxing Board of Control, offering a charity alternative instead.
The Main Event and Its Aftermath
The highly anticipated “Fatal Fury” bout between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn took place as scheduled on April 26, 2025, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. In a compelling 12-round middleweight contest, Chris Eubank Jr. emerged victorious, defeating Conor Benn by unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the fight 116-112 in his favor. The fight was described as a pulsating, all-action slugfest, with both fighters coming out hard from the start. Eubank Jr.’s size was noted as a significant factor, with his punches carrying more impact. While Benn landed solid shots and even wobbled Eubank Jr. on several occasions, Eubank Jr. landed the more effective blows and controlled most of the action, out-landing Benn 367-215. Following the grueling encounter, Eubank Jr. was taken to the hospital for precautionary checks due to severe dehydration.
The undercard also delivered exciting matchups. Anthony Yarde defeated Lyndon Arthur via unanimous decision in their trilogy bout, while Aaron McKenna dominated Liam Smith, also winning by unanimous decision. Viddal Riley claimed the British Cruiserweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Chev Clarke, and Chris Billam-Smith returned to winning ways by defeating Brandon Glanton via unanimous decision.
The rivalry, however, was far from over. A rematch between Eubank Jr. and Benn was contracted and took place on November 15, 2025, again at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. In a decisive turn of events, Conor Benn avenged his earlier loss, defeating Chris Eubank Jr. by a wide unanimous decision. The judges scored the rematch 119-107, 116-110, and 118-108 in favor of Benn, who notably scored two knockdowns in the final round. Unlike their first competitive encounter, the rematch was largely one-sided, with Benn dominating from the early rounds and Eubank Jr. appearing sluggish and subdued. This victory marked Benn’s first professional defeat avenged and significantly boosted his standing in the boxing world. For Eubank Jr., who was 36 at the time of the rematch, the loss prompted speculation from promoter Eddie Hearn that it could potentially be his last fight, citing Eubank’s age and physically taxing recent bouts.
