Conor Benn had called in reinforcements ahead of his highly anticipated showdown with Chris Eubank Jr. in April 2025, and it was someone guaranteed to get under his opponent’s skin. The clash, billed as “Fatal Fury,” was scheduled for April 26, 2025, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England.
Benn, putting his undefeated record on the line against the bigger and more experienced Eubank Jr., aimed to continue the storied feud between the Eubanks and the Benns, a rivalry that has captivated British boxing for decades. This fight was a rescheduling of their originally planned October 2022 bout, which was postponed after Benn tested positive for clomifene.
As part of standard pre-fight protocol, each fighter is permitted to appoint a representative to enter their opponent’s dressing room and oversee the hand-wrapping process. For this monumental encounter, Benn selected someone Eubank Jr. knew all too well: Billy Joe Saunders.
A Rivalry Reignited: The Benn-Eubank Legacy
The rivalry between the Benn and Eubank families dates back to the 1990s, when their fathers, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank Sr. engaged in two seismic contests that became defining moments in British boxing history. Chris Eubank Sr. won their first encounter in 1990 for the WBO middleweight title, and their 1993 rematch ended in a draw. This generational feud added immense weight and anticipation to the clash between their sons, transforming it from a mere boxing match into a continuation of a deeply personal saga.
Leading up to their first scheduled fight in 2022, the build-up was intense, but the event was ultimately cancelled. Conor Benn faced a provisional suspension after testing positive for clomifene. After a period out of the ring, Benn made his comeback in September 2023, securing a unanimous decision victory over Rodolfo Orozco in Orlando, Florida. He followed this with another unanimous decision win against Peter Dobson in Las Vegas in February 2024, maintaining his undefeated record and demonstrating his readiness for elite competition.
Strategic Reinforcements: Saunders’ Role and Fighter Form
Conor Benn’s decision to enlist Billy Joe Saunders was a calculated move designed to add another layer of psychological warfare to the already heated contest. Saunders holds a significant place in Chris Eubank Jr.’s career, as he was the first man to hand Eubank Jr. a professional defeat. This occurred in November 2014, when Saunders secured a close split-decision victory, retaining his European, British, and Commonwealth middleweight titles. The rivalry between Saunders and Eubank Jr. has been long-standing, with Saunders often teasing a potential rematch.
“I’m going to have a call with him later to discuss it,” Billy Joe Saunders told The Ring prior to the April 2025 bout.
“He wants me to go in there and make sure there’s no cheating with the hand wraps. The one person Eubank will not want to see on the night is me.”
Saunders’ presence was a clear attempt to get under Eubank Jr.’s skin, leveraging their shared history and Eubank Jr.’s bitter resentment for his former foe. At the time of the first Benn fight, Chris Eubank Jr. held an impressive professional record of 34 wins and 3 losses, with 25 knockouts, and was the IBO middleweight champion. His prior defeats had come against notable opponents such as Billy Joe Saunders, George Groves, and Liam Smith, the latter of which he had avenged in a dominant performance. Benn, on the other hand, entered the April 2025 fight with an unblemished record of 23 wins, 0 losses, and 14 knockouts, primarily campaigning at welterweight.
“I think it’s going to be a good fight, but I want to see Conor Benn knock him out cold,” Saunders continued.
“Regardless of the result, I’ve always got the win over him so it doesn’t really matter to me. But if I can help Conor do it, I will.”
Saunders also recalled a recent run-in with Eubank Jr. in London:
“I hollered at him through a window, and he made his driver drive off. There was no malice, I was just going to give him a bit of stick, but he probably saw me and thought, ‘I’m making weight, I could do without this today.’”
He added, undoubtedly with a grin: “Trouble is, he might have to see me on fight night now instead.”
The First Chapter: Eubank Jr. Claims Victory
The highly anticipated first encounter between Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. on April 26, 2025, lived up to its billing as a dramatic, competitive, and physical contest that went the full 12-round distance. In front of an announced crowd of 67,484 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Eubank Jr. ultimately had his hand raised, winning via unanimous decision with all three judges scoring the bout 116-112 in his favor.
Benn started aggressively, pressing early and landing significant shots, including a powerful eighth round where he visibly hurt Eubank Jr. However, Eubank Jr. gradually regained control as the fight progressed, demonstrating superior stamina and experience. He utilized sharp jabs and precise punches, outlanding Benn in every round. Both fighters engaged in a thrilling final round, trading punches in non-stop action, but Eubank Jr.’s resilience and tactical skill proved decisive. The fight was widely regarded as the “Fight of the Year” for 2025 by various boxing outlets.
Revenge and Resolution: Benn Dominates the Rematch
The outcome of their first fight only intensified the rivalry, leading to an immediate demand for a rematch. Just seven months later, on November 15, 2025, Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. met again at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This time, the narrative was dramatically different. Conor Benn delivered a boxing masterclass, dominating Eubank Jr. from start to finish and securing a wide unanimous decision victory. The judges’ scorecards read 119-107, 116-110, and 118-108, all in favor of Benn.
Benn’s performance was highlighted by two crucial knockdowns in the twelfth and final round. A jab set up a powerful right hand that connected behind Eubank Jr.’s ear, sending him to the canvas. Eubank Jr. managed to beat the count but was dropped again moments later by another chopping right hand. He again rose before the referee completed the count, but the 10-7 round further solidified Benn’s dominant victory. This emphatic win not only avenged his earlier loss but also secured a significant victory for the Benn family in their long-standing feud with the Eubanks.
Following the rematch, Conor Benn’s professional record stands at 25 wins and 1 loss, with 14 knockouts. Chris Eubank Jr.’s record is now 35 wins and 4 losses, with 25 knockouts. After his decisive victory, Benn declared the rivalry over, stating, “This is the end of the Benn-Eubank saga, over. Chris has twins coming and I have my boy, but this ends here.” This statement suggests a potential move for Benn back to the super-welterweight or even welterweight division, where he has primarily competed, to pursue world titles. Eubank Jr., despite the loss, remains a prominent figure in the middleweight division, with a career marked by exciting fights and a willingness to face top competition.
