Conor Benn made a victorious return to the ring last weekend to set up a potential December showdown with Chris Eubank Jr.
Benn and Eubank were scheduled to fight 12 months ago, but the clash was pulled just days out after it came to light that ‘The Destroyer’ had returned adverse findings in two separate VADA tests.
Eubank has since fought twice, getting knocked out for the first time in his career to Liam Smith, but avenging that defeat just seven months later.
Benn made his comeback after a year and a half out of the ring with a points victory over tough Mexican, Rodolfo Orozco.
All talk has now turned to reigniting one of British boxing’s most famous family rivalries.
Speaking to Boxing News, former Eubank opponent, George Groves, believes Benn will come up short against the naturally bigger fighter.
“I haven’t seen the Conor Benn fight to be honest, I haven’t seen it yet. I know he won on points and boxed well against a tough durable guy up at light middleweight – which looks like his new weight.
I thought Chris Eubank Jr was a lot better last time out. After the first fight against Liam Smith I wondered if he was just a shot fighter, was finished, punch resistance gone, the body starting to fail him, but he went back to the drawing board, made some changes with his tactics and with his team and went out and performed really, really well.
I’d always really pick Eubank Jr to beat Conor Benn. He’s naturally bigger, more experience been in the tougher fights, dealt with the pressure and I’m not sure what sort of state Conor Benn’s heads at right now, maybe in a good place, maybe not. He looks a force on the pads but I haven’t seen him fight since last April.
If it does happen I’d like to see in the UK.
Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn has made no secret of the fact they are trying to make that fight next and have December 23 pencilled in as the likely date.
Before anything can be set in stone, the British Boxing Board of Control and UK Anti-Doping Agency have lodged an appeal that will directly affect Benn’s ability to fight in the UK. As of writing, he is under no suspension.