Former world champion Ricky Hatton has had his say on what he thinks will happen if and when Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr come to face off in the ring.
It is now more than a year since Benn and Eubank Jr’s original fight fate was cancelled late in the day as it emerged that the former had failed a drug test. Since then he has been fighting to clear his name.
Without a British Boxing Board of Control license, his last contest took place out in the States when he went to the full distance with tough Mexican, Rodolfo Orozco, in Florida.
Since then, promoter Eddie Hearn has ramped up talk of the two family rivals settling their differences before the end of the year, ideally in the UK. For that to happen, they will need to persuade the BBBofC to allow Benn to fight under their auspices because although his provisional suspension by United Kingdom Anti-Doping was lifted, they announced their intentions to file an appeal.
Speaking to Casino Canada, popular Brit Hatton discussed what he thinks might happen if the two meet. First, he praised Eubank’s last performance then pointed out the size difference between the two men.
“But I’ve seen Conor Benn be very vicious, very explosive just like his dad was but his dad is my hero and I hope his dad won’t mind me saying that Conor seems to have a bit more behind his ears than Nigel. There’s a little more caution, a little more thinking about his attacks at the end of the day.”
Hatton then wondered whether Conor had the same toughness of his father.
“Whether he’s got the same heart and chin as his dad remains to be seen as he hasn’t had to prove that yet. If he does have the same heart, and the same determination and drive as his dad then I think Benn Jr seems to have a little more savvy and patience and controlled aggression about him so it makes it very exciting.”
Finally, he picked a winner, but only just.
“You have to say after Eubank’s last performance against Smith, he has to be a slight favourite but I fancy Conor to win.”
Despite the controversy, it is a fight many fans are still very keen to see.