Chris Eubank Sr. probably isn’t thrilled about this latest twist. This fight — the one his son, Chris Eubank Jr., is finally about to step into — was supposed to be settled three years ago. But things went sideways. Why? Conor Benn failed not one, but two drug tests. The substance? Clomiphene — a banned female fertility drug that’s strictly off-limits in and out of competition. As a result, Benn was slapped with a ban from the British Boxing Board of Control, and the bout was scrapped. Fast forward to now — and somehow, everything’s back on.
Remember when Mike Tyson casually said, “I don’t know America would be interested because I don’t think they’re internationally known.” ? Yeah, that might not apply anymore. Especially after the press conference in Manchester, where Chris Eubank Jr. decided to literally smash eggs on Benn’s face. And even though Eubank Sr. still isn’t a fan of the match-up — especially since Benn is stepping up from welterweight to middleweight to fight his son — the fight is still very much happening. However, with just three days left until Chris Eubank Jr. vs Conor Benn finally goes down… His Excellency Turki Alalshikh has entered the chat and dropped a bombshell that had everyone saying, “This is gonna be more entertaining.” So what did he do?
Turki Alalshikh raises major concerns ahead of fight night
Earlier today, taking to X, Turki Alalshikh wrote, “I just arrived to London…I have a very big concern that the fight will not happen because of the drug test results of Eddie Hearn and Ben Shalom .” Yes, that’s right. The chairman of the General Entertainment Authority is clearly having a bit of fun — poking at the promoters, teasing the fans, and maybe even throwing a little jab at Chris Eubank Sr. in the process.
I just arrived to London…I have a very big concern that the fight will not happen because of the drug test results of Eddie Hearn and Ben Shalom pic.twitter.com/xNtiLOqrh3
— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) April 21, 2025
Now, speaking of Eubank Sr., in case you missed, he’s not thrilled how this fight is going ahead. He’s made it crystal clear: He hates the matchup! Mainly because of the weight difference. Of course. And if he had it his way, just like the original bout that was supposed to go down at The O2 in October 2022, this one would be cancelled too. Moreover, despite being a strong presence during Eubank Jr.’s amateur days, Eubank Sr. has made it clear he won’t be in his son’s corner this time — a sharp contrast to Nigel Benn, who’s fully backing his son every step of the way.
Even though their own rivalry dates back over 35 years, Nigel Benn is now playing peacemaker. He’s urged former WBC super-middleweight champion, Chris Eubank Sr. to patch things up with his son, saying it’s not a good look for a father to throw his own kid under the bus in the public eye. Benn’s message is simple: “They both should get together, talk it out.” On top of that, Benn Sr. hopes the April 26th fight can be more of a family affair. He’s even holding out hope that Eubank Sr. will show up in his son’s corner when the bell rings.
Anyway, who knows how Chris Eubank Sr. is going to react. But one thing’s for sure — just like the buzz around Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez despite the weight gap, this fight’s got everyone fired up too. Fans have been all over Turki Alalshikh’s post — and honestly, the reactions are just as entertaining as the build-up to the fight itself.
Nobody wants to miss a second of Chris Eubank Jr vs Conner Benn matchup
One fan immediately clocked the sarcasm and replied “Jokes Turki .”
Another fan was clearly hyped about the UK showdown, writing, “This is gonna be more entertaining than half the main cards we’ve had lately.” According to them, not even the Jaron Ennis bout, the George Kambosos scrap, the Dmitry Bivol trilogy talk, or even Gervonta Davis’ potential Fight of the Year has them as locked in as this one. Big statement — and they’re standing by it.
Then there was this gem: “The boardroom beef has left the table and stepped into the ring. And I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” Now that’s a bar. With all the back-and-forth, the debates, the weight drama, and now the social media jabs, this fan is clearly living for the chaos.
And Turki Alalshikh? Oh, he’s got people shook. One fan cracked, “ almost had Me,” while another ran with the joke, saying, “Speak to vada ” — hinting that if the drug-testing agency stepped in, maybe even the promoters would get their act together.
But maybe the best reaction? “Hold up wasn’t April 1st 20 days ago !?” A subtle nod to the time Turki Alalshikh almost fooled everyone with his April Fools “retirement” from boxing. This fan’s been through it before — and they’re not falling for his tricks again.
Anyway, with all the buzz building up — it’s pretty clear this fight is gonna be electric. Yeah, the old-school rivalry is still in the background. But now? This isn’t just about carrying the torch. These two — Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn — are doing it for themselves. No questions asked! Chris Eubank Jr. has already said as much — he’s fighting for his own legacy.
So with that said, do you see Chris Eubank Jr. landing that knockout and putting an exclamation mark on this feud? Or… Does Conor Benn flip the script and get revenge for the loss and draw his dad took back in the ’90s? Do share your thoughts with us below.
The post Chris Eubank Jr vs. Conor Benn Turns Into a Personal Rivalry Between Turki Alalshikh & Eddie Hearn, Fans React- “Gonna Be More Entertaining” appeared first on EssentiallySports.
