CHRIS EUBANK JR and Conor Benn paid a touching but subtle tribute to their dads during their second generation grudge match.
Eubank Sr shares Britain’s greatest rivalry with Benn’s father Nigel, who he beat in 1990 and drew with three years later.
GettyChris Eubank Jr beat Conor Benn in their grudge match[/caption]
And he emotionally reunited with his son on the night of the fight – following their public falling out.
Benn stepped out with Nigel to his dad’s old ring walk song Dangerous by Conroy Smith.
And Eubank Jr was flanked by his old man – to the elation of Tottenham’s stadium – with Simply The Best blaring out.
Eubank Sr of course having famously walked out to his fights to the Tina Turner classic.
But the tributes did not stop there as Benn wore all black shorts while Eubank Jr donned white and red.
Fans were quick to point out they were the exact colours their dads fought in three decades ago.
One said: “Both fighters came out in same the same shorts as their dads 35 years earlier in Eubank Jr vs Benn last night.”
Another hailed: “Love that Eubank is wearing the same shorts his dad wore in his first fight with Benn.”
PAEubank Sr beat Nigel Benn in 1990 with their sons wearing the same shots 35 years later[/caption]
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A third added: “He had the same colour shorts his dad had on in his first fight with Nigel.”
Eubank Sr had been passionately against the fight due to the weight difference between the two born rivals.
Benn, 28, is a natural welterweight while Eubank Jr, 35, missed the 160lb middleweight limit by 0.05lb and had a 10lb rehydration clause.
But Eubank Sr sent Spurs’ stadium into a frenzy by returning to his son’s side – something he apparently always planned to do.
He revealed after the fight: “I’m so proud of him. That’s my son. I was always going to be here.”
Eubank Jr earned a unanimous points win with a clean sweep of 116-112 scorecards.
He was taken to hospital as a precautionary on the night of his heroic victory with Benn joining him a day later.
A rematch clause is in their contract with Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh having already eyed Tottenham again for September.
Eubank Jr vs Benn: SunSport’s verdict
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS of the Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr rivalry was settled with 36 minutes of violence.
Yet with all the tremendous heart shown by both boxers, there wasn’t much technique, skill or finesse on display here.
After tons of trash talking, egg throwing and mind games that have been played out to the world over the last three years, SunSport’s Wally Downes Jr gives his verdict on what should be the final chapter in one of British boxing’s biggest beefs.
Read here to find out why the 12-round slugfest should not be repeated – and why the rivalry should now be put to bed.
But Eubank Jr could choose to move back up in weight while Benn has options down at welterweight to fight WBC champion Mario Barrios.
Benn said: “Do I avenge the loss or move back to 147lbs and win a world title? If Barrios is watching, I’d love that,” Benn said.
“But I feel like I just want to settle this.”
Benn’s promoter Eddie Hearn added: “In defeat, he’s become a superstar.
“We have to think about what we do next, we’ve seen tonight he’s a world-class fighter and can win world titles.
“We’ve got a rematch up at 160lbs but this kid has an unbelievable future and can be a superstar in this country, filling stadiums.
“I think he can win the rematch but we have to think carefully about what we do because he’s been through an unbelievable amount.
“I’d like to see him go back to 147lbs and fight for a world title.”
GettyBenn contemplated his next move in the post-fight press conference[/caption] Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]
