Conor Benn has revealed he is firmly cheering on someone in the upcoming rematch between Liam Smith and Chris Eubank Jr – however it’s more in hope than actual belief.
A money spinning clash between Benn and old foe Chris Eubank Jr has been tipped incessantly this year, however it’s difficult to envisage it happening should ‘Next Gen’ lose out to Smith again.
That in mind, Benn told Boxing Social he would “love” Eubank to pull it off, but that he “can’t see it.”
“I haven’t seen any hype around it or any build up.
But I can’t see Eubank getting past Smith, as much as I’d love Eubank to win as we have our own feud which we need to settle.
But the damage that has been done has been done and it’s only going one way.”
Eubank has changed trainer from Roy Jones Jr to Terence Crawford’s head coach, Brian McIntyre, ahead of the rematch, however it is difficult to see this having too much impact at such short notice.
Smith’s early destruction of Eubank was one of the most memorable nights of boxing in the UK this calendar year, as he handed the braggadocios Brighton man the first stoppage loss of his 35 fight professional career.
Though at one stage it looked like Jr would be revisiting a date with family rival Benn instead of rematching Smith, those plans never materialised and he will now look to try and exorcise his demons against Liverpudlian favourite ‘Beefy’ at the same Arena where it all went pear shaped for him at the beginning of the year.
Smith has raised the stakes for both men, claiming that the loser in just over two week’s time will be staring retirement in the face.