Chris Eubank Jr kept the idea of a Conor Benn fight alive with his excellent rematch win over Liam Smith in Manchester.
The 33-year-old was teetering on the edge of retirement, and a second loss to Smith in a row would have been a healthy shove.
That conversation isn’t happening in the aftermath, as Eubank put in what some are calling a career-best performance to reverse the results and stop Smith in the tenth.
Their first fight together came after a frustrating period for the Brighton man. He had a much-hyped fight with Conor Benn pulled at the last minute due to the latter failing Voluntary Anti-Doping Agency test.
Post-fight, Benn – who was watching from ringside – was ‘not impressed’, and reiterated his promise that he gets rid of Eubank in four rounds if they ever do fight, and even at the weight of 160lbs despite being a career-long welter.
“He did what he needed to do. I feel the same way I’ve always felt [about a Eubank fight] – that’s [a stoppage] within four rounds. He looked better than he has done before but there was only one way up from where he was. Let’s get it on. Let’s give the public what they want.”
Asked about his verdict at the press conference, Eubank cast up the positive drugs tests.
“Maybe the juice is still affecting his mental.”
Despite clearly feeling that Benn was not innocent in the doping scandal, he called him out for a fight and it looks like work will immediately begin behind the scenes to make it happen.
Benn is eyeing up a return date of September 23 in the States whilst the UK Anti-Doping Agency are in an appeal process against his suspension being lifted.
The details of that case are not readily available to the public, however his team are confident that he will be fighting in the UK on December 3, and Eubank just became the clear front runner.